THE United States Department for Transport has allocated a $US 132m grant through its Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (Infra) programme to help fund the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project (CIP), which will eliminate Belt Junction, one of the most congested rail bottlenecks in the Chicago region.

AN ACS Group/Hochtief-led consortium has reached financial close on a $US 4.9bn public-private partnership (PPP) contract with Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) to design, build, finance, operate and maintain an automated peoplemover (APM) at Los Angeles Airport, the fifth busiest airport in the world.

TWO US rail projects have been recommended for $US 148.2m in grants, plus another four grade-separation schemes totalling $US 66m, out of 26 transport projects recommended by the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) to be awarded a total of $US 1.54bn in federal funds which form part of the 2018 Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (Infra) grant programme.

HENNEPIN County Board of Commissioners voted by a 5:2 majority on May 31 to increase the county’s funding commitment to Minneapolis’ Southwest Light Rail project to cover an increase in cost.

AMTRAK issued a request for proposals (RFP) on June 1 for the modernisation or replacement of ageing diesel locomotives used on its long-distance and some state-sponsored services.

ELECTED officials and Bart representatives joined community members for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 25 to mark the start of services on the 16km Antioch extension of the Bart network the following day.

NEW YORK City Transit (NYCT) president Mr Andy Byford unveiled plans for the modernisation of the city’s bus and subway networks on May 23, bringing forward major improvements to signalling and stations.

FORT Worth Trinity Metro celebrated a milestone for its TexRail commuter rail project on May 22 when the line’s train maintenance depot was inaugurated in the presence of the city’s mayor, Mrs Betsy Price, and Federal Transit Administration regional administrator, Mr Robert Patrick.

BRIGHTLINE will extend its West Palm Beach - Fort Lauderdale inter-city service 35km south to its new terminal at Miami Central on May 19, and has confirmed that work will start later this year on its extension north to Orlando Airport.

TEXAS Central announced on May 2 that it has appointed Bechtel to provide project management services for its scheme to develop a privately-funded high-speed line linking Dallas and Houston.