Infrastructure

The executive committee of the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, which oversees the region's transit plans, voted last week to switch to a new funding formula that will mean the loss of significant funding for Detroit.

Chicago settled a legal dispute with the private operators of its parking meter system over lost revenue in an agreement that modifies the much maligned lease and could save the city as much as $1 billion over the next seven decades.

President Obama on Monday tapped Charlotte, N.C. Mayor Anthony Foxx to replace Ray LaHood as Secretary of Transportation.

Austin is considering a plan to lease its airport to finance a light rail system, a move that would allow the city to bypass bonds for an inaugural 5.5-mile transit line.

Ontario, Calif., officials filed a claim on April 11 seeking to dissolve a joint powers agreement in an attempt to wrest control of its local airport away from Los Angeles World Airport.

An Oregon delegation led by Treasurer Ted Wheeler met with White House officials last week to discuss a new exchange for regional infrastructure projects.

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber said the $3.4 billion Columbia River Crossing bridge project will die if Washington lawmakers try to kill light-rail from the proposal, according to reports.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey voted Wednesday to use a public-private partnership to replace the Goethals Bridge between New York and New Jersey.

The federal government will need to make difficult and politically divisive choices to maintain highway funding in coming years, transportation experts told members of the House Budget Committee Wednesday.

New York MTA chairman-designate Thomas Prendergast said favorable state aid might partially offset the size of a fare and toll increase in 2015.