Economy

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick's far-reaching transportation funding overhaul proposal would restructure the state tax system in an effort to add new transit service and bring older systems up to date.

Moody's put the Ba2 rating of Good Samaritan Hospital under review, a week after Standard & Poor's downgraded the Lebanon, Pa., system three notches to B-plus.

Kansas City, Mo. officials hope to quickly resolve a lawsuit filed by several business owners challenging the legality of the funding mechanism for the city's proposed $102 million downtown streetcar project.

The Cincinnati City Council Wednesday narrowly approved a controversial plan to lease the city's parking system for an upfront payment to offset a budget shortfall - but a judge almost immediately issued an injunction to halt the deal.

Chances for state bill authorizing the $2.7 billion Cotton Belt commuter rail project dimmed after the Fort Worth City Council opposed the plan.

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.

Palmdale, Calif. wants to gain control of its local airport from the city of Los Angeles.

The cost of the East Side Access project to bring Long Island Rail Road service to Grand Central Terminal in New York City could cost nearly $9 billion when completed in 2019, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said in a report Wednesday.

A bill that would transfer control of Charlotte Douglas International Airport to an independent authority is getting swift attention from the General Assembly, and North Carolina's new governor.

Some Alabama state legislators upset about the downsizing of Jefferson County, Ala.'s indigent care hospital have filed bills that would increase disclosure requirements and redirect indigent funds.

Three Senate Democrats wrote to House Speaker John Boehner, urging him to restore transportation funding cut in pending House legislation.

The Ohio House last Thursday passed legislation that would allow the state to issue $1.5 billion of bonds backed by a new Ohio Turnpike credit.

A judge last week agreed to allow a lawsuit to proceed that challenges Chicago's 99-year, $563 million lease of four downtown parking garages to a private consortium.

Indiana embarks on its first public-private partnership that is structured with availability payments next week as it borrows $641 million of private activity bonds for its half of the $2.6 billion, bi-state Ohio River Bridges project.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials expressed dismay Monday over a House bill for a continuing resolution to fund the U.S. government.

Moody's Investors Service has given its stamp of approval to Virginia's new transportation funding plan, saying that it is a credit positive for the commonwealth at a time when it is highly exposed to risk from federal cuts.

The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority board has approved refunding up to $1 billion of debt in a deal led by Goldman Sachs and Jefferies & Co. and assigned Morgan Stanley the lead spot on a future new-money deal that may tap the TIFIA program.

Moody's Investors Service has downgraded Portland Airport Enterprise's general airport revenue bonds to Baa1 from A3.

The Texas Department of Transportation will tap revenues from a high-speed tollway bypassing Austin to add tolled lanes to the city's airport.

Congressional staffers and finance experts speaking at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Washington Briefing said the outlook for highway funding is more uncertain than ever, while two transport-oriented lawmakers vowed to work across the aisle to make sure state and local officials have federal support.