Infrastructure

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is pioneering a unique type of public-private partnership to replace the aging Goethals Bridge.

CHICAGO — While Illinois lawmakers temporarily adjourned last week without passing a fiscal 2011 budget, they did approve legislation establishing a commission that will lead the initial planning effort for a regional high-speed rail system.

WASHINGTON — Congressional appropriators will be hard-pressed to provide more funding for high-speed rail for fiscal 2011 unless there is clear evidence that the $10.5 billion lawmakers approved for the sector has been used by state and local governments, a congressional staffer said yesterday at a rail industry meeting here.

After exhausting its borrowing capacity and faced with uncertain federal funding levels, Missouri’s proposed five-year transportation improvement program now calls for about $500 million in annual spending on construction grants, down sharply from the $1.25 billion spent annually under the previous program.

WASHINGTON — Virginia on Wednesday expects to competitively price $492.7 million of transportation bonds — the state’s first bond offering from a $3 billion debt program approved in 2007.

The House Ways and Means Committee’s select revenue measures panel will hold a hearing Thursday on proposals to create an infrastructure bank.

WASHINGTON — Citing market turbulence, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said late Friday it would delay its second deal to finance construction of a Metrorail extension that will ultimately link downtown Washington, D.C., with Washington Dulles International Airport.

Gov. Edward Rendell last week nominated William Lieberman to serve as a commissioner of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.

ALAMEDA, Calif. — California’s plans for a bond-financed high-speed passenger train system are in critics’ crosshairs following the release last week of a critical report by the state ­auditor.

Airport executives are accusing airlines of being hypocritical, claiming they are arguing against airports increasing passenger facility charges while collecting increased revenue from fees for baggage and other amenities.