Moving quickly, two committees of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission have advanced more than 50 highway and bridge projects and 20 public transit projects eligible for federal stimulus funds, making it highly likely that they will be funded.

The projects are situated in the 10-county region overseen by the planning commission and include the Port Authority's North Shore Connector subway extension and a major reconstruction of Route 28 on the North Side.

The connector would get $61.7 million toward a $117.8 million cost overrun that threatened to halt the half-completed project.

"The North Shore Connector continues to go full speed ahead," Steve Bland, Port Authority chief executive officer, said yesterday.

The $61.7 million is the Port Authority's full share of more than $7 billion allocated to transit agencies nationwide under pre-existing formulas.

The authority will pursue the remaining $56.1 million it needs for the subway project from two other segments of the stimulus bill that authorize $1.5 billion nationwide, to be awarded on a competitive basis.

Mr. Bland said language in the stimulus legislation is favorable to the subway project, giving priority to projects already under construction. "We're quite optimistic," he said. "It's far from being a sure thing."

The Port Authority board yesterday awarded two contracts totaling $88.3 million for the project, which will extend the Light Rail Transit system 1.2 miles from Downtown under the Allegheny River to new stations at PNC Park and Heinz Field by 2011.

The second-biggest funding item that was advanced yesterday was $46 million to help prepare for major reconstruction of Route 28 from the North Side to Millvale, a stretch plagued with congestion and crashes.

Overall, the planning committees advanced nearly $220 million in highway and bridge projects and nearly $100 million in transit projects, all of which are said to be ready or nearly ready for construction.

Chuck DiPietro, transportation planning director for the SPC, said it was essential that the selected projects be ready to go because of federal requirements that at least half of the stimulus money be obligated within 120 days.

If it is not, the money will be redistributed to other states.

Among the other projects endorsed yesterday were:

Allegheny County -- Reconstruction of interchange at Routes 22/30/60 near Robinson Town Centre, $13 million; reconstruction and realignment of Brownsville Road at Broughton Road intersection, $10.5 million; flyover ramp over railroad tracks at old National Tube Works, now called Riverplace Industrial Center of McKeesport, $5.8 million.

Armstrong -- Resurfacing of Allegheny Valley Expressway in North Buffalo and South Buffalo, $9.2 million; resurfacing of Route 422 in Worthington, West Franklin and Summit, $5.3 million.

Beaver -- Beaver-Rochester Bridge rehabilitation, $20 million.

Butler -- Replacement of Harmony Junction Bridge in Jackson, $8.5 million; deck replacement of West Park bridges 1 and 5 in Muddycreek, $4 million.

Fayette -- Route 119 restoration in North Union and Dunbar, $5 million; replacement of two bridges over Trout Run in Saltlick, $2.5 million.

Greene -- Rehabilitation of Browns Creek Bridge in Franklin, $2.2 million.

Indiana -- Rehabilitation of Chestnut Ridge bridges eastbound and westbound, Route 422, $5.6 million.

Lawrence -- Grove Street Bridge restoration, New Castle, $3.8 million; Route 422 resurfacing, Mahoning and Union townships, $5 million.

Washington -- Concrete patching on Interstate 79 from Canonsburg to Allegheny County line and improvements to ramps at I-70/I-79 junction, $16.9 million; resurfacing Route 19 from Conklin Road to Route 519 in North Strabane, $3.5 million.

Westmoreland -- Resurfacing Route 30 from Black Hill Road to Toll Route 66 in Hempfield, $4.1 million; resurfacing Route 30 from Theater Street to Route 217 in Unity, $4 million.

Because of a requirement that public comment be solicited on projects getting $10 million or more, the commission has scheduled four public meetings on stimulus spending next week:

• 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Room 104, Washington County Courthouse.

• 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, commissioners meeting room, Beaver County Courthouse.

• 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Zelienople Borough Building.

• 3 to 5 p.m. March 9, SPC offices, Regional Enterprise Tower, Downtown Pittsburgh.

Comments also may be sent by e-mail to comments@spcregion.org.

The full commission will meet March 9 to finalize the project list.