Economy

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation this week will price $893.8 million of fixed-rate senior revenue bonds to refinance Metropolitan Highway System debt it took on from the former Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, followed by a $207.6 million variable-rate senior debt sale.

CHICAGO — Provisions in the new federal health care law that aim to change the way hospitals are paid for their services could pose risks to nonprofit providers, Standard & Poor’s said in a report released yesterday.

New York’s cash-strapped Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced yesterday that a reorganization of its bridge and tunnel maintenance operations would save $25 million annually.

Ambac Assurance Corp. will appeal a Nevada bankruptcy judge’s ruling that the Las Vegas Monorail Co. was entitled to file for bankruptcy under Chapter 11.

WASHINGTON — State and local officials yesterday urged members of a House Ways and Means Committee panel to create and capitalize a national infrastructure bank, but neither they nor the lawmakers could agree on how to finance or structure the bank.

WASHINGTON — The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has temporarily suspended a $650 million deal for its Metrorail extension project, citing market volatility. However, the delay will not affect construction, authority officials said.

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.

House Speaker Jim Tucker, R-Terrytown, said Monday that Louisiana must exercise better control of state employee retirement systems that threaten funding for important services and programs.

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.

Standard & Poor’s has revised its outlook to stable from negative on the BBB-plus rated CGH Medical Center, citing improved operating performance. The debt was sold through the former Illinois Educational Facilities Authority.

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.

CHICAGO — Chicago-based Ziegler Capital Markets Group last week announced the hiring of its first New York City-based health care banker, Mike Quinn, to lead its East Coast banking and advisory efforts with hospitals and health care systems.

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.

CHICAGO — The Illinois Finance Authority board advanced plans this week for more than $550 million in health care-related deals, including the Clare at Water Tower’s tender and exchange offer that is part of a debt restructuring aimed at giving the struggling retirement development more time to succeed.

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.