Virginia and airports officials announced Thursday they’ve trimmed the price of Dulles rail by more than $300 million without jeopardizing the number of commuters who will use the new Metro line, part of a late bid to salvage the over-budget transit project and win $900 million in crucial federal funds. The Federal Transit Administration is expected to receive the proposal for the project’s first phase Friday, with the overall cost slashed to about $2.5 billion.

Officials say they’ve achieved the cost reduction by changing oversight and procurement practices, revising designs and removing $122 million worth of features with the hope of funding them separately.