Infrastructure

WASHINGTON - The transportation bill scheduled for its first vote in a House subcommittee this week would drastically alter the ability of state and local governments to toll and enter into public-private partnerships by creating a federal office that would oversee and approve such actions for highways financed with federal aid.

In the first deal backed by a new payroll tax, New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority plans to go into the short-term market with up to $600 million of revenue anticipation notes, officials said yesterday.

WASHINGTON — The House Transportation Committee Monday unveiled a 775-page, multi-year transportation infrastructure bill that is to be voted on Wednesday by its transit and highways subcommittee.

Massachusetts lawmakers late yesterday voted to abolish the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority by the end of 2009 and create a new agency with bonding authority that would oversee most transportation programs in the state and take on MassPike’s $2.2 billion of outstanding debt.

WASHINGTON — States and other sponsors of high-speed rail projects must submit pre-applications for a share of the more than $8 billion of available funding no later than July 10, the Federal Railroad Administration said this week in interim guidance that outlines the criteria for such projects.

The California Alternative Energy and Advance Transportation Financing Authority has announced the closure of a $20 million clean renewable energy bond deal on behalf of the California Department of Transportation.

SAN FRANCISCO — The Los Angeles Harbor Department plans to sell $200 million of new-money bonds and up to $550 million of refunding debt next week.

WASHINGTON — House Transportation Committee leaders yesterday released a voluminous blueprint for a soon-to-be-introduced bill that would create a national infrastructure bank to help states, localities and private parties finance transportation projects.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors Tuesday gave the go-ahead for a revenue bond issue of up to $250 million for the county’s John Wayne Airport.

WASHINGTON — The $450 billion transportation bill that is to be introduced soon by the House Transportation Committee chairman will provide $1 billion of federal funds for designated metropolitan planning organizations to issue bonds to finance transportation projects.