Concerns about the potential for cost-overruns on turnkey projects have resulted in the requirement of a relatively high level of design to be completed before the FTA will commit to funding a project. In a "Dear Colleague" letter concerning design-build projects, FTA stated that it must attain "an adequate level of confidence in the final cost estimates of the project" before it will sign a Full Funding Grant Agreement.35
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35 See "Dear Colleague Letter" dated Sept 20, 2000; http://www/fta/dot/gov/office/public/c0015.html.