By Dawn Neuses, dneuses@qconline.com

MOLINE -- The state agreed this week with MetroLINK's decision to award Legat Architects a $1.79 million contract for design and engineering of the multi-modal station at 4th Avenue and 12th Street.

According to MetroLINK spokeswoman Jennifer Garrity, the Illinois Department of Transportation agreed with the contract and the hard copy is in the mail.

On March 7, the Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District board -- MetroLINK's governmental body -- approved an architectural and engineering services contract with Legat to design the station.

Because state funds are being used, IDOT had to agree with the contract.

Legat has started working on the station design and a planning session will be held next week, Ms. Garrity said. The goal is to start construction this fall and complete it by spring of 2014.

"It is an aggressive schedule, but we believe we can make it happen," she said.