The Federal Transit Administration has announced its 2011 New Starts grants, which include $21 million for the RapidRide C Line.  The program provides federal support for major capital construction projects such as subways, light rail, streetcars, and bus rapid transit. (Read the FTA’s news release.)

This award brings RapidRide’s total federal and state funding to just over $82 million.

In other news, Metro will be holding an “open house” with a RapidRide bus at the 2011 Redmond Derby Days on Saturday, July 9, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.  Stop by and say “hi!”