The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) announced yesterday that the feds have given the much-needed Central Subway its final environmental clearance. Praise God.

The $1.3 billion plan will connect the new-ish T-Third line from SoMa to Chinatown, dotted along the way with underground stations at Chinatown, Moscone Center, and Union Square, and a surface pit stop at Fourth and Brannan.

Now all the Central Subway needs is the Board of Supervisors to show it some love. And how could they not? "The Central Subway will help relieve congestion on one of the most crowded corridors in the country," said Mayor Gavin Newsom via press release. "The project will also provide thousands of jobs in these difficult economic times." Not to mention get more people to use public transit.

Construction should begin in 2010, with service starting in 2016.