Transportation industry

Puerto Rico received 12 responses from infrastructure funds, U.S. private-equity firms, Canadian pensions, and developers based in Spain and India to a request for qualifications for a privatization of up to 50 years of its principal airport, near the capital, San Juan.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority sold $201.6 million of tax-exempt capital grant receipts bonds, Series 2011.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo named a search committee to recommend candidates for the next chairman and chief executive of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Fitch Ratings upgraded Massachusetts’ special obligation highway revenue bonds to AA-plus from AA with a stable outlook. The agency said the move was part of its continuous surveillance effort.

CHICAGO - Detroit hopes to come to market in early September with up to $100 million of federal capital grant-backed bonds to finance part of a light-rail system along the city's main thoroughfare.

Cost estimates for California’s proposed high-speed rail project are starting to come in higher than expected, according to local press reports.

Los Angeles International Airport reported a 5.4% increase in passenger levels during the first half of 2011, nearly double what officials had been projecting.

DALLAS - Colorado's Regional Transportation District has received confirmation of a $1.03 billion federal grant that is a key element in financing its $6.7 billion FasTracks program.

Florida plans to advance $3 billion of transportation projects, according to Transportation Secretary Ananth Prasad.

CHICAGO - Ohio is looking for advisors to help it explore privatization options for the Ohio Turnpike.

Though the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey didn't say so directly in its statement announcing stunningly high fare-hike proposals, the message was clear: the authority is worried about its bond rating.

CHICAGO - With no near-term plans to resurrect his predecessor's proposed lease of Midway Airport to private operators, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants to leave the door open to it by asking the Federal Aviation Administration to preserve its approved slot under a pilot program.

Thousands of workers at the Federal Aviation Administration and airport construction projects around the country will be able to return to work this week because of a short-term funding extension.

The Connecticut State Bond Commission approved $3 million of repairs for the Hartford-to-East Hartford railroad bridge. The funding was part of a state infrastructure improvement package aimed at school and transportation projects.

SAN FRANCISCO - In one of the most complicated bankruptcy cases involving municipal debt, Las Vegas Monorail Co. bondholders are battling on multiple fronts to try and ­recover some of their money.

The board of the San Diego Association of Governments voted July 29 to purchase the State Route 125 toll road lease for $345 million, contingent on the agency performing due diligence and after officials hold a public meeting.

WASHINGTON - Virginia is using a public-private partnership to put another tunnel under the Elizabeth River between Norfolk and Portsmouth. Including improvements to existing tunnels and some surface road building, the project is budgeted at $1.9 billion.

Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Ananth Prasad has chosen a toll road industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience to be the executive director of Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise.

SAN FRANCISCO - Washington has finalized its statewide ballot measures for November and they include a controversial initiative to limit tolls, the secretary of state's office said this week.

DALLAS - With more than $1 billion of road and rail projects in the works, the Dallas suburb of Irving is pressing ahead with the nation’s largest transit-oriented development despite economic challenges.