Infrastructure

The Regional Transportation Authority of Illinois has hired former Chicago revenue director Bea Reyna-Hickey as its CFO, filling the position left vacant by Grace Galluci's departure to run the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency.

A public-private partnership to develop a $400 million light rail line in San Juan, P.R. might utilize parking revenue, fares, and other sources to finance the project, according to city officials.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport plans to start laying the groundwork toward building a fifth runway at a cost of $160 million.

The Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority has named interim director Max Crumit to be the Florida agency's permanent leader.

Firms from four countries as well as the U.S. expressed interest in participating in a public-private partnership to construct a street car system in the District of Columbia.

Fitch Ratings last week downgraded $41.1 million of transportation improvement bonds issued by the Butler County Transportation Improvement District, Ohio, to A from AA-minus. The outlook is negative.

Tax-increment financing is an increasingly popular model for cities looking to finance mass transit development, but participants in such projects said Thursday that economic conditions have created several significant challenges for TIF undertakings.

Gov. John Kasich, who has made privatization of state assets a top priority, announced that the state will embark on its first P3 with the construction of a new bridge in downtown Cleveland.

Veteran infrastructure finance banker Rohit Syal has joined Ullico Investment Advisors, Inc., as a director, the company announced Wednesday. He formerly worked at Loop Capital Markets, where he was involved in prominent infrastructure deals.

The GOP 2012 platform, scheduled to be approved at the party's national convention Tuesday, includes several familiar tax proposals and a handful of initiatives to encourage more private sector involvement in infrastructure finance.