The future of Metro’s Light Rail project has hit another stop sign.

Metro has been told by Federal Transportation Administration officials that it must re-apply for preliminary engineering approval.

What does that mean? It could mean that the planned early 2008 construction of the North and Southeast lines will have to wait.

In a letter received on Friday by Metro Chairman Frank Wilson, Deputy FTA Administrator Sherry Lewis says that Metro will have to re-apply for approval for its projects because of the change from Bus Rapid Transit to Full Light Rail.

That was announced by Metro in October.

The feds say Metro must update forecasts and its capital cost estimates. After the FTA finishes reviewing that, Metro must then submit a new full application. All of that has to happen before the projects can start construction if federal funds are going to be used.

Metro must get 50 percent federal funding according to the ballot measure that approved pursuit of light rail in the region.

Metro spokesman George Smalley says that the agency is still sorting out the impacts of the letter and what effect it may have on the construction timeline and the possibility of qualifying for federal funding.