Transportation industry

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.

The Puerto Rico Public-Private Partnership and the Puerto Rico Ports Authority have set Aug. 8 as the due date for responses to a request for qualifications for a privatization of Luis Munoz Marín International Airport in San Juan.

New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority priced $400 million of revenue bonds in a transaction led by book-running senior manager Bank of America Merrill Lynch and co-senior Loop Capital Markets.

CHICAGO - With its seven-year-old $6 billion capital program nearing completion, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority on Thursday unveiled a follow-up $12 billion, 15-year plan that relies on a toll increase to help repay an estimated $4.8 billion of new borrowing.

WASHINGTON - Sen. Ron Wyden has introduced a bill to create tax-credit bonds for transportation projects, hoping the program will navigate the political and economic realities that have challenged previous attempts at federal financing tools for state and local governments.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency has hired a new head. Edward Reiskin will lead the agency after serving in the top spot at the city’s Department of Public Works.

WASHINGTON - Some airport bond ratings could be hurt by the congressional stalemate over funding the Federal Aviation Administration, according to credit rating analysts.

The rising debt of New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority is "an absolute ticking time bomb," its finance committee chairman said Wednesday.

DALLAS - Toll road debt rated by Moody's Investors Service rose 19.2% in 2010, prompting a negative outlook on the sector, analysts said in a special report.

Travis County voters would decide Nov. 8 on a $205.6 million general obligation bond program for roads and park projects if commissioners accept the recommendations presented last week by a citizens committee.

Jay Walder on Thursday announced his resignation as chairman and chief executive of New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, effective Oct. 21.

CHICAGO - The trustee on $113 million of bonds that financed construction of privately owned Branson Airport drew on supplemental reserves to make a July 1 debt service payment as the operators work to bolster business and stave off future enforcement actions by bondholders.