A $40 million funding request for the design of the Central Subway’s three underground stations is expected to move forward today.

At its meeting this afternoon, the Civil Service Commission is likely to approve the $40 million allocation for the Municipal Transportation Agency, which is in charge of the $1.57 billion project to connect downtown San Francisco to Chinatown by extending Muni’s Metro service. The subway could eventually travel as far north as Fort Mason.

The MTA will use the $40 million to fund work on the final design plans for the proposed underground stations at the Moscone Center, Chinatown and Union Square, the latter of which has been the site of dispute between city officials and local retailers.

The second-part of a two-phase project that began with the creation of T-Third Metro line, the Central Subway is scheduled to be fully operational by 2018. The MTA projects that by 2030, over 75,000 passengers will be using the Central Subway.