advertisement

---

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) inspector general recently gave Sound Transit’s Central Link light-rail system a clean bill of health, enabling the agency to receive federal funds to help build the system.



The initial segment of the system successfully demonstrated that Central Link is on track for cost, schedule, safety and viability as a stand-alone transit project, according to a prepared statement.



In April 2001, the inspector general recommended a $500 million full funding grant agreement be put on hold until Sound Transit resolved several issues and USDOT conducted a two-year audit.



The only remaining area of concern for the project is pending litigation of Initiative 776, which, if passed by voters, would repeal the regional voter-approved motor vehicle excise taxes that support 20 percent of Sound Transit’s program, agency officials believe.