The Federal Transit Administration is providing $478 million for the 11-mile light rail line between downtown St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis. The $957 million project is about 12 percent complete. The Met Council awarded construction contracts last year after local funding partners committed to the project. So far, it's created about 570 jobs. Trains are expected to run beginning in 2014.
Gov. Mark Dayton, Sen. Al Franken, Rep. Betty McCollum and local officials are expected to attend the ceremonial signing in the state Capitol complex.