The Federal Transit Administration has accepted Honolulu’s rail project into the "final design" phase, the last step before the city can be approved for federal funding. 

Mayor Peter Carlisle made the announcement late this afternoon, saying that FTA Regional Administrator Leslie Rogers sent a letter to the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. 

"Entering into final design also allows us to begin the process of working toward our full-funding grant agreement with FTA, which solidifies the $1.55 billion in federal funds we expect to receive," Carlisle said in a statement.