Portland officials celebrated Tuesday as millions of federal dollars were made available for more light rail projects in the area.

TriMet said $345.4 million was approved for the eight-mile Green line along the Interstate 205 corridor on the east side.

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The new MAX trains will be used on the I-205/Portland Mall extension.

Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith, Reps. Peter DeFazio, Darlene Hooley, David Wu Earl Blumenauer joined Mayor Tom Potter, ODOT and Metro to sign the contract with federal transit officials Tuesday.

The new line will join the Gateway area with Clackamas, and downtown Portland to Milwaukie.

Federal funding was set to cover 60 percent of the project and construction started in March.

Service was scheduled to begin in September of 2009.