DETROIT, MI - A big week for Detroit, with the auto show and return of Red Wings hockey, has reportedly got even bigger.

Radio station WWJ (950 AM) reported Tuesday that "a trainload of federal money" is headed to the city for the long-awaited Woodward Light Rail project.

How much are we talking?

LaHood reportedly told reporters Monday at the Detroit auto show that the M-1 light rail streetcar group pushing the effort "did everything he asked them" to do.

WWJ mentions the group's tasks for LaHood included "gaining state legislative approval for a regional transportation authority and breaking a decades long impasse between Detroit and Lansing for a viable public transit system."

A Transportation Department spokesperson would only confirm to Mlive Detroit last week that LaHood is scheduled to be in Detroit on Friday, but couldn't reveal any further details.

If you want to get the scoop on LaHood's whereabouts this week, I'd suggest following him on Twitter.

He posted Monday

that appeared to come from the Motor City.

LaHood last year told investors he would consider granting the federal funds if a regional transit authority were created to ensure long-term maintenance of the light-rail system, which would run 3.3 miles from Downtown to the New Center area with 11 stops over 15 minutes.

The state legislature last month approved the creation of the regional authority, charged with overseeing a network of transit systems in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw counties.

The $137-million project is backed by a group of private investors including M-1 CEO Matt Cullen, Roger Penske and Dan Gilbert.

The project was initially planned as a 9.3-mile light-rail system stretching from Downtown to 8 Mile Road, but backers decided on a scaled-back version using streetcars, which travel slower and use smaller stations and more frequent stops.

A high-speed bus system is being considered for a longer Woodward Avenue route.