FLORIDA - City transportation managers envision trolley buses moving around Miami's downtown center and nearby neighborhoods in an interconnecting system of routes. They moved closer to their goal Wednesday when the Federal Transit Administration announced it would provide Miami with an anticipated $4.1 million of stimulus money for the project.

The money is a fraction of the $64.5 million the federal government also gave to Miami-Dade Transit, which will pass the money to Miami. The $4.1 million will be used to buy about 25 rubber tire trolley buses, said Jose Gonzalez, a city transportation coordinator. The trolleys are ``trolley-simulation'' vehicles manufactured in 25- to 33-foot lengths with a capacity for 22 to 39 passengers. The money would also be spent for bus shelters and signs. But Miami officials are quick to note that the stimulus money would enable them to create more that 80 jobs associated with the new trolley system. Miami's trolley system would offer routes in the Brickell business district, the Health District, Coral Way, Allapattah and Overtown neighborhoods. Overall, the city plans to use federal stimulus money and then operate the trolleys with Miami's share of the half-cent transit surtax from the People's Transportation Plan. The proposed routes are: Coral Way-Brickell: Would travel along Coral Way and end on the east at the Brickell Metrorail/Metromover station at Southwest First Avenue. It may also connect to the Coral Gables trolley that operates along Ponce de Leon Boulevard on the west. Downtown-Brickell: Route stretches from Southeast 26th Road to the Omni area north of Brickell Avenue. It will connect to the Coral Way trolley at the Brickell Metrorail/Metromover station at Southwest First Avenue. Health District (Civic Center): A two-way loop will connect 14 major facilities and nine parking garages in the area, including the University of Miami Hospital, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Veterans Administration Hospital, Miami Dade College, the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office, local courts, educational and research institutions. It will connect to the Civic Center Metrorail station on Northwest 12th Avenue and the Allapattah and Overtown routes. Overtown-Health District: Service will be along Third Avenue. It will connect to both the Health District and the Downtown-Brickell trolleys. Allapattah-Health District: Trolleys will run along Northwest 20th Street from Northwest 17th to 27th avenues. It will connect to the Health District trolley route. Separately, city transportation managers are preparing a request for proposals for the Health District trolley, Gonzalez said. Miami is looking for companies to bid on a contract to provide trolley buses, drivers, fuel, maintenance and storage for the route covering the Health District. Ltd.