After long deliberations, agreements were made between Bechtel, the Port, and local governments and agencies in October 1998. A part of the agreements authorized Bechtel to design and build a light rail extension to the airport and to fund a portion of the project in exchange for development rights to the Portland International Center, which was situated east of the airport. Bechtel later developed this commercially zoned property and renamed it Cascade Station. The project was accelerated with the establishment of a public–private partnership, which eliminated the need for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approval due to a lack of FTA funding. A preliminary engineering study commenced in December 1997. The following year, the Associated Builders and Contractors filed a petition in Multnomah County circuit court claiming that the contract awarded to Bechtel may have violated Oregon procurement laws. A judge ruled in favor of TriMet, declaring that the contract was awarded fairly.