Infrastructure

BRADENTON, Fla. — After nearly two decades of planning, a major runway extension project at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in South Florida is finally nearing takeoff.

DALLAS — Tolls on twin state bridges across the Mississippi River in New Orleans should be allowed to expire next year with the final payment on the bonds that financed the spans, an advocacy group argues.

DALLAS — Denver continues to cut costs associated with its $500 million South Terminal airport redevelopment project that will be financed with bonds.

The Department of Transportation is expected to launch TIGER III during the next few weeks, ultimately awarding grants for capital projects from $528 million that was provided for the program in the recently enacted fiscal 2011 budget compromise.

The Louisiana Good Roads and Transportation Association has called for an increase in the state tax on gasoline to fund the construction of more roads.

Brandon Beach of Alpharetta has been named chairman of the Georgia Transportation Board’s public-private partnership committee, which oversees P3 projects for the state.

A legislative plan to merge the Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority, the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority and the Mid-Bay Bridge Authority with the Florida Turnpike Enterprise has failed to gain headway.

CHICAGO — Warning of the threat posed to its long-term fiscal stability, the Regional Transportation Authority of Illinois is leading a charge against state legislation that would aid retailers and other businesses seeking to avoid paying some local sales taxes by setting up shell offices elsewhere.

CHICAGO — Two weeks after it hit Cleveland with a credit downgrade, Fitch Ratings has cut the rating on $835 million of bonds issued for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport to A-minus from A.

Moody’s Investors Service has affirmed its A2 first-lien and A3 second-lien ratings assigned to Midway Airport’s $1.4 billion of outstanding bonds in conjunction with Chicago’s replacement of a swap agreement on a portion of Midway’s debt portfolio.