Economy

Fitch Ratings affirmed its top ratings on the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Airport Commission and its $261 million of general obligation debt.

Standard & Poor’s has revised its outlook on Chicago-based Swedish Covenant Hospital’s BBB-plus issuer credit rating to stable from positive due to operating losses last year.

The New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust may finance nearly $900 million of clean water and wastewater projects in fiscal 2010, almost double its typical annual program, with the aid of federal and state stimulus funds.

Standard & Poor’s revised its outlook on Chippewa County Memorial Hospital’s below-investment-grade credit of BB-plus to stable from positive.

A group of transportation experts yesterday urged Congress to develop a new agenda for transportation that creates and expands bond-related financing programs and sets specific national goals but gives states and localities maximum funding flexibility for projects.

CHICAGO - The Regional Transportation Authority of Illinois in coming weeks will convert $133 million of high interest-rate variable-rate securities to a new, more affordable mode and enter the market to raise $260 million for cash flow as the agency grapples with dwindling sales taxes and state payment delays.

Arizona State University in August will open its new College of Nursing and Health Innovation in downtown Phoenix that has been built with proceeds from bonds issued by the city.

DALLAS - The North Texas Tollway Authority will apply $133 million of federal stimulus funds to its first toll project in Tarrant County, officials said.

The New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority tomorrow will head to market with $150 million of state-backed, fixed-rate bonds that will help finance the consolidation of acute-care services in northern New Jersey.

House Transportation Committee chairman James L. Oberstar is lighting a fire under lawmakers to approve a multi-year transportation funding authorization bill by Sept. 30, vowing he will not sponsor or approve any short-term extension to the current law.

Unable to recover from an adverse court decision earlier this year, the company that ran the Hawaii Superferry filed for bankruptcy Saturday.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, which aims to boost transit fares by 10% to 20% in the fall, yesterday approved moving forward with a public hearing process on the planned price hike.

SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco International Airport this week converted most of its floating-rate private-activity bonds subject to the alternative minimum tax into tax-exempt debt.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority staff last week recommended fare and parking increases and modest service cuts along with a total budget of $787.6 million for fiscal 2010.

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and former Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith yesterday announced the launch of a working group that will push for the creation of a new federal "center of excellence" that municipal and state officials could consult for guidance on public-private partnerships.

The Weirton Municipal Hospital Building Commission’s $7.5 million of revenue debt was downgraded by Fitch Ratings on Friday.

Moody’s Investors Service has revised its outlook to negative from stable on Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare’s Baa1 rating as a result of the hospital’s weakened credit profile. The action affects $502 million of debt.

Pennsylvania officials are debating whether to resubmit to federal officials an application to implement tolls on Interstate 80 or look to alternative revenue enhancers as the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission continues its payments to the state.

DALLAS - The state Legislature's failure to approve $2 billion of bonds for the Texas Department of Transportation and uncertainty over the agency's future could force Gov. Rick Perry to call a special session, lawmakers said yesterday.

DALLAS - Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said a more detailed business plan is needed for a proposed state hospital complex in New Orleans that would replace storm-damaged Charity Hospital.