Transportation industry

Several Maryland state legislators are pushing for a constitutional amendment allowing the state to put transportation packages and their related bonds on statewide ballots.

A South Carolina judge has allowed the Georgia Ports Authority to intervene in a lawsuit challenging the deepening project in Savannah Harbor.

An impending refunding of parking garage debt is a sign that revitalization is a reality at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport as passenger levels increase to near pre-hurricane days at the city-owned airport.

West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin issued an executive order creating a blue ribbon commission to study long-term transportation needs.

The Louisiana State Bond Commission will review the first tranche from a new state bond program to finance rural road upgrades.

Attorney Michael Washo will run the troubled Parking Authority in Scranton, Pa., a judge has ruled after indenture trustee Wells Fargo sued.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick signed a transportation bond bill that will provide $1.5 billion in state and federal funds.

Dallas Fort-Worth International Airport begins a series of refundings that is expected to total nearly $1 billion, following a successful new-money AMT deal.

Federal and state officials are seeking to overhaul the leadership of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority amid pending legislation that would restructure the board of the bond-issuing authority.

A federal judge is allowing a lawsuit against the $2.6 billion Ohio River Bridges Project to proceed. Judge John Heyburn ordered briefs filed by the end of February.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett and the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority announced the signing of a Delaware River dredging contract.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the New York State Department of Transportation has awarded a $29.3 million contract through the NY Works program for repairs to 13 bridges.

After proposing a toll increase in June, the Maine Turnpike Authority board is expected to make a final decision on a new toll structure Aug. 16.

Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., announced this week that he has introduced legislation that would hand control of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to Virginia.

Moody's Investors Service changed the rating outlook to positive from stable on the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority's $197 million of A2-rated bonds. Moody's also upgraded the authority's $63 million of rental car facility bonds to A3 from Baa1.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has issued the final guidelines that three teams will use to develop proposals for building the state's half of the $2.6 billion Ohio River Bridges Project.

Moody's places the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's senior sales tax bonds on review for possible downgrade, affecting roughly $3.8 billion in debt.

These reduced forecasts are likely to impair the ability of Pocahontas 895 to service the bank and Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loans used to fund the road's development.

Indiana last week released its final request for proposals for the East End Crossing of the massive $2.6 billion Ohio River Bridges Project.

The transportation infrastructure funding crisis facing governments at all levels is providing a "silver lining" in finance innovation as state governments are turning increasingly to such new tactics as variable-rate fuel taxes and mileage-based user fees, according to a report released this week by the National Conference of State Legislatures.