Transportation industry

WASHINGTON — The acquisition of American Airlines by either of two competitors could result in a negative outlook for small to medium-sized airports, Moody's Investors Service said Monday.

WASHINGTON — A divisive labor issue that had stalled negotiations on a Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill has been resolved, and there is now a real possibility that the long-awaited legislation could land on the president's desk before the Jan. 31 deadline.

WASHINGTON — Moody's Investor’s Service is keeping its negative outlook on U.S. toll roads because of rising fuel prices, political hesitancy to increase toll rates, and a sluggish economy.

Facing a federal investigation of past practices, the North Texas Tollway Authority has adopted a new ethics policy that requires extensive disclosure and tighter strictures on conflicts of interest.

Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded the troubled Southern California Logistics Airport Authority’s subordinate tax-allocation revenue bonds to B3 from B1.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority in north Florida cancelled its meeting set for Wednesday.

WASHINGTON — A key Virginia lawmaker is sponsoring legislation that would raise nearly $1 billion annually for infrastructure through gas and sales taxes, after warning of a severe budget shortfall for road maintenance near the nation's capital and complaining the governor's transportation plan is only "a drop in the bucket,"

It’s time to get serious about completing Interstate 49 South in Louisiana, and a public-private partnership might be part of the financial solution to the $5.2 billion effort, Treasurer John Kennedy said last week in Lafayette.

Kentucky Senate President David Williams last week expressed concern over the divided work and funding plans that were recently proposed for the $2.6 billion Ohio River Bridges Project.

In speaking engagements around Alabama last week, Gov. Robert Bentley announced that he plans to ask the Legislature to make major changes in the state budget, and to issue $2 billion of bonds for transportation projects.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton last week announced the creation of an advisory task force charged with coming up with ideas to raise revenue for road, highway and bridge projects.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority meets Wednesday to continue working toward a resolution on its $115.9 million of defaulted bonds, which were sold to build a toll bridge in north Florida.

CHICAGO — The trustee on $113 million of bonds that financed construction of the privately owned Branson, Mo., Airport opted not to nearly drain remaining reserves to make a Jan. 1 debt-service payment as airport operators struggle to bolster operations and stave off future bondholder enforcement actions.

WASHINGTON — Despite the financial struggles and criticism faced by prominent fast-rail projects in California and Florida, high-speed and regional rail is likely to proceed out of necessity, according to an analysis by Fitch Ratings.

Republican lawmakers in California have introduced a bill that would block the state from selling bonds for a planned high-speed rail system.

With the Jan. 31 expiration date of the latest Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization law coming up fast, hopes for a long-awaited multi-year bill are giving way to pessimism as airport lobbyists fear that deep partisan divides and a limited number of congressional work days may wind up producing another short-term measure or FAA shutdown.

WASHINGTON — Increased reliance on public-private partnerships to fund construction of roads, rail, water, sewers, public buildings and other projects could save Maryland millions of dollars annually and create thousands of jobs, according to a state legislative commission report.

A recently abandoned plan to build a light-rail line in Detroit won new life last week when the federal government agreed to give local officials 90 days to refine a less costly plan.

With one of its two hub airlines in bankruptcy, Chicago officials breathed a bit easier last month when Moody’s Investors Service affirmed its ratings on Chicago O’Hare International Airport’s $5.6 billion of general airport revenue debt.

Dire warnings about the future of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission based on a $450 million-per-year infrastructure payment requirement are overstated, according to a research report.