Economy

DALLAS — The Arkansas Trucking Association has withdrawn its support for a proposed increase of the state diesel tax to support $1.1 billion of bonds for interstate highway projects.

The Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority, a quasi-governmental organization that promotes public transit, said last week that it has launched a petition drive to support local funding options for public transportation.

A consortium led by Goldman, Sachs & Co. will pay a total $1.43 billion to maintain and operate Puerto Rico's busiest toll road for 40 years.

CHICAGO — U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois unveiled legislation Monday that would promote public-private partnerships for transportation projects by lifting federal restrictions on tapping private financing for airports, highways, and railroads.

Port of Houston Authority officials said last week construction of a cruise ship terminal in Pasadena cost $108.4 million rather than the previously announced $71 million.

The Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority has agreed to borrow $98 million to help Erie County Medical Center Corp. build a nursing home at its campus on Buffalo’s East Side.

Gov. John Lynch on Wednesday vetoed a bill that would have stripped the New Hampshire Rail Authority of many powers, including the ability to issue bonds.

Northern Berkshire Healthcare Inc., unable to restructure $43 million in secured bond debt, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The Quincy Medical Center missed a $380,000 bond payment due May 31, about a month after it said it would seek a buyer.

WASHINGTON - The Bipartisan Policy Center released a new spending reform plan Thursday that calls for a near quadrupling of the U.S. Transportation Department's TIFIA program from a $122 million annual appropriation to $450 million.

BRADENTON, Fla. - South Miami is seeking a taxable bank loan to fund a settlement with the Internal Revenue Service over impermissible uses of tax-exempt bond and bank loan proceeds to build a parking garage.

A detailed analysis of cost-saving measures for the Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project says at least $1.2 billion could be trimmed off the previously estimated $4.1 billion price tag.

CHICAGO - Debate was expected to began Wednesday in the Wisconsin Assembly on a new budget, one day after the state's high court reinstated Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill that raised employee pension payments and health care premiums and curbed most public unions' collective bargaining rights.

CHICAGO - While its issuance levels recently have reflected the national slowdown, the Illinois Finance Authority is seeing some pickup in health-care deal flow with four issues for nearly $800 million in the works, including $533 million for the state's largest health care system and three direct bank purchases.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has selected three consortiums to bid on a $1.5 billion replacement of the Goethals Bridge.

DALLAS - Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal Monday asked for consideration of an alternative, no-debt financial plan for a proposed $1.2 billion state hospital in New Orleans.

Standard & Poor’s last week lowered its rating on the Nevada Regional Medical Center into junk bond territory due to ongoing strains on the balance sheet.

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard last week announced a plan to build a $15 million parking garage financed in part with proceeds from the $20 million the city received by leasing its parking meters for 50 years. The city last week announced the selection of a developer and operator of the new mixed-use parking development. The lot will have 350 spaces, retail space, and a police substation.

In the midst of a $1.9 billion renovation of its four original terminals, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport will refund $112 million of revenue bonds next week for total anticipated savings of $25 million.

The Department of Transportation is proposing high-speed rail projects be built with 100% American-made parts and equipment.