PASADENA - Congress members said Tuesday they expect to secure about $320 million in federal funding for the first phase of the Gold Line extension - as long as state and local officials can come up with the remaining $80 million.

Speaking at his office, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena, said there was a "good chance" that language guaranteeing an 80 percent commitment would make it into the final version of a federal transportation bill. A representative for Rep. David Dreier, R-San Dimas, also was optimistic about the funding.

"(Dreier) is very confident about a federal match," said Alisa Do, Dreier's spokeswoman, who was joined by representatives from half a dozen other state and federal lawmakers at the summit, as well as mayors from the various cities along the proposed 24-mile, light-rail route from Pasadena to Montclair.

Environmental studies and preliminary design work have already been completed for the project, which could reach the border of Azusa and Glendora by 2011. But officials need about $400 million to build that first phase of the line.

That means state and local agencies have to come up with about $80 million if they want to start the project on schedule by the end of next year.

"I feel confident the (Federal Transit Administration) will help us, but they won't simply accept our word - they want money on the table," said Schiff, who was joined via teleconference by Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-Santa Fe Springs, during the meeting. They promised to present a letter to federal transportation officials touting the bipartisan show of support for the project by local officials.