Infrastructure

The Virginia Port Authority's decision not to pursue a public-private partnership could have a negative impact on other potential port privatization deals, according to a new report from Fitch Ratings.

General aviation airport officials in Florida and across the country will discuss the implications of tower closings Tuesday in a conference call with the Federal Aviation Administration

Charles "Chip" Barclay announced Wednesday that he will retire as chief executive officer of the American Association of Airport Executives on Dec. 1.

Moody's said that $2.7 billion of bonds issued by the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia could be downgraded if costs and delays on the Vogtle nuclear plant escalate beyond those known so far.

The Virginia attorney general's office has issued an opinion that a sweeping new transportation law passed by the legislature last month violates the state constitution.

A U.S. Senate panel gave its stamp of approval this week to legislation that would create a federal loan and loan guarantee program for water infrastructure that could augment bond financing and public private partnerships.

The American Society of Civil Engineers has given America's infrastructure an overall grade point average of D+ across sixteen categories — up slightly from the D in its last report in 2009 and the first improvement since the group started its report card in 1998.

The New York Thruway Authority says it is in the process of obtaining a $1.5 billion TIFIA loan, but U.S. DOT guidelines indicate the loan would be at least $200 million less.

Congress will have a chance in coming weeks to consider two pieces of legislation aimed at increasing investment in water infrastructure, including bonds and public-private partnerships.

Mark Crisson, president and chief executive officer of the American Public Power Association, plans to retire from the group on April 1, 2014.

Reps. Richard Neal, D-Mass. and Lee Terry, R-Neb., both former public officials, have introduced a resolution on the importance of municipal bonds to state and local governments that they hope will garner a lot of attention and support among House members.

The Senate Budget Committee Democrats' budget resolution for fiscal year 2014 suggests the possibility of percentage or dollar caps on tax preferences such as tax-exempt muni bond interest, pushes traditional tax-credit bonds for transportation, and proposes a $10 billion infrastructure bank to provide loans and loan guarantees for projects.

Changes to the tax code capping the tax exemption of municipal bonds would increase borrowing costs for public power providers of all sizes, according to a new report from the American Public Power Association.

Three Standard and Poor's analysts speaking in the wake of federal sequestration cuts said that public power utilities, water and sewer entities, and the transportation sector should all remain fairly stable for the next year despite a number of pressures.

Florida is seeking qualified firms interested in a public-private partnership to build a $2.1B managed-lanes project on Interstate 4 through Orange and Seminole counties.

The Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act has been touted by many as a crucial funding source for major projects, but most states have never used the program and say it has little value for them.

Two northern Virginian House Democrats have introduced legislation that would authorize the study of an expansion of the Washington Metrorail deeper into the commonwealth.

The House approved legislation on Wednesday to fund the government after current authorization expires March 27, over the objections of transportation advocates upset that it would cut millions in highway and transit spending.