The 1.2-mile extension of Port Authority's light rail system, the T, from Downtown Pittsburgh into the city’s thriving North Shore area supported about 4,000 jobs through the design and construction phases of the project, which included the boring of twin tunnels under the Allegheny River and the construction of three new stations in Downtown Pittsburgh and on the North Shore. The North Shore Connector was financed primarily with the help of competitive federal and state grant dollars specific to the project. In the mid-1990s, regional leaders developed a plan to extend the T north to support a vision for developing the area now known as the North Shore. They asked Port Authority to take over the transit plans.Today, that vision has been realized. Extending the T not only offers benefits to commuters but has also brought light rail service directly into an area that is now rich in entertainment, educational and employment destinations.