Transportation industry

Memphis-headquartered Pinnacle Airlines Corp. filed for Chapter 11 reorganization on Sunday.

A proposal to issue $325 million of revenue bonds to upgrade and repair state rural roads was approved by the Louisiana House Tuesday without a dissenting vote.

The Georgia Department of Transportation said Tuesday it and federal agencies have officially begun preparation of an environmental impact statement on the proposed multi-modal passenger terminal in Atlanta.

Standard & Poor's issued its first public rating of a public-private partnership in the United States, a BBB-minus for a project to build a tunnel under the Elizabeth River between Norfolk, Va., and Portsmouth.

SAN FRANCISCO —The projected price tag for California's planned high-speed rail system between San Francisco and Los Angeles has been cut by a third.

Chicago has requested a federal extension until the end of the year to decide whether to attempt to privatize Midway Airport, a move that preserves the city's ability to resurrect a lease deal that could generate several billion dollars in up-front cash.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is scheduled to auction $400 million of its consolidated bonds on Wednesday.

CHICAGO — The Michigan Senate last week advanced a measure to divert a piece of the state's fuel sales tax to finance transportation infrastructure projects, part of an effort to raise more money for the depleted roads fund.

WASHINGTON — A coalition of state departments of transportation have banded together to urge the House Republican leadership to avoid including any language in a transportation bill that would remove "important optional financing tools" for some public-private partnerships.

New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority has purchased 300 new rail cars for $600 million.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey voted Thursday to cut compensation and benefits for non-union employees, saving an estimated $41 million over the next 18 months.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey submitted a request to federal officials that its Bayonne Bridge "Raise the Roadway" project be considered for expedited review under President Obama's executive order on permitting and federal review.

WASHINGTON — Congress approved a 90-day extension of federal highway funding Thursday, capping a week filled with wild legislative twists and turns that led House Republican leaders to pull shorter-term bills from the floor three days in a row when it was clear they wouldn't be approved.

Honolulu’s plans to build a 20-mile elevated rail system appear to be clearing funding hurdles despite staunch opposition from mayoral candidate and former governor Ben Cayetano.

The Alaska Railroad faces a big budget cut from the U.S. Senate that could potentially put railroad bonds in jeopardy, news reports say.

Alaska’s Knik Arm bridge project has run into hurdles in the Legislature over $150 million of early funding for the controversial public-private toll crossing.

The Lafayette Metropolitan Expressway Commission will study whether tolls on a six-mile stretch of Interstate 49 will support construction of the portion of the highway in Lafayette.

Completing Interstate 49 through a public-private partnership is one of the five state goals that were outlined last week by Louisiana Treasurer John Kennedy.

DALLAS — A $500 million general obligation bond package going to Dallas voters this fall will do little to whittle down the city's $4.4 billion of needed street repairs and reconstruction.

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley is seeking transportation proposals that will be funded with the first round of financing from $600 million to $650 million of grant anticipation revenue vehicle bonds the state intends to sell.