LOS Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) opened a 10.6km extension to its Expo Line from Culver City to Santa Monica on May 20 with free trips offered on May 20 and 21 before the start of regular services on May 22.

DENVER Regional Transportation District (RTD) held a groundbreaking ceremony on May 10 to mark the start of construction on the 3.7km Southeast Rail Extension.

CALTRAIN's Modernisation Program has secured an additional $US 211m investment following a seven-party agreement adopted by the agency's board of directors on May 5.

KANSAS City celebrated the return of light rail to its streets after a 59-year hiatus on May 6th with the opening of a 3.5km line from River Market via the city centre to Union Station.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in Bellevue, Washington, on April 22 to mark the start of construction on Sound Transit's East Link light rail line.

MIAMI-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organisation (MPO) adopted a resolution on April 21 endorsing the Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (Smart) plan, which envisages the construction of six new urban rail lines in Miami-Dade County.

THE first phase of Denver's Eagle PPP commuter rail project was completed on April 22, when Colorado state governor Mr John Hickenlooper, United States transportation secretary Mr Anthony Foxx, and the mayor of Denver Mr Michael Hancock inaugurated the 37.8km University of Colorado A Line from Union Station to Denver International Airport.

WABTEC has been awarded a $US 30m contract to supply Positive Train Control (PTC) equipment for Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District's (NICTD) 140km South Shore Line, which links Millennium station in Chicago with South Bend, Indiana.

SAN FRANCISCO Bay Area Rapid Transit (Bart) has awarded Mermec, Italy, a contract to supply a self-propelled track recording and inspection vehicle to monitor infrastructure on its 167km network.

CANADIAN Pacific (CP) announced on April 11 that it has abandoned its bid to merge with Norfolk Southern (NS), including the withdrawal of a resolution asking NS shareholders to vote in favour of good-faith negotiations between the two railways.