Infrastructure

WASHINGTON - House Republicans plan to soon introduce a five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill that would be partly paid for by revenues from expanded domestic energy production, Speaker John Boehner announced Thursday.

DALLAS - The North Texas Tollway Authority achieved total savings of $10.1 million in a $268.6 million refunding deal that sold out in less than three hours, officials said.

The board overseeing the embattled Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority on Monday accepted its executive director's resignation and reached an agreement with the Florida state government to build a long-planned beltway.

CHICAGO - The U.S. market for public-private partnerships remains small and fragmented, marred by hurdles like clashing legislation and political controversy, in contrast to Canada and Europe, panelists said at The Bond Buyer's Transportation/P3 Conference here.

DALLAS - The South Louisiana Port Commission will expand cargo-handling capabilities at the Port of South Louisiana with a new pier financed by $8 million of port revenue bonds.

The board of New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority discussed the proposed four-year budget and capital plan for 2012 to 2014 on Wednesday amid the hovering shadow of labor negotiations.

CHICAGO - Ohio hopes to issue a request for proposals by the end of the year to privatize its highway rest areas, one of several public-private partnerships being eyed by Gov. John Kasich's administration.

CHICAGO - With federal funding and gasoline tax revenue falling far short of meeting demand for transportation infrastructure, sector participants need to do a better job selling the public and political leaders on the perks of investment and the pitfalls of inaction.

CHICAGO - As the market continues to cope with the near-disappearance of bond insurance, one effect is clear: the growing need for issuers to tout their stories to entice investors, panelists at the Bond Buyer's Transportation/P3 conference here said Tuesday.

Ohio State University announced last week that it has selected seven possible partners for the school's plan to become the first public university to privatize its parking system.