Transportation industry

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.

The Maine Turnpike Authority is suing former chief executive Paul Violette, demanding he repay $524,000 it alleges he cost the agency between 2003 and 2011.

The chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee said Thursday that she wants the panel to approve a bipartisan, two-year $109 billion transportation reauthorization bill before Congress leaves for its August recess.

A California appellate court will hear a public employee union’s appeal next month after a court denied a lawsuit over the Presidio Parkway public-private partnership.

WASHINGTON - The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority board of directors did a turnaround on Wednesday and voted 11 to 1 to approve the construction of an above-ground station for the metrorail extension to Dulles International Airport.

WASHINGTON - Transportation advocates told members of Congress on Wednesday that a healthy tax-exempt bond market, an expansion of the use of private-activity bonds, and the reinstatement of Build America Bonds would help finance much-needed infrastructure improvements.

DALLAS - The Central Texas Turnpike System, which operates three tollways in the Austin area, is counting on higher subsidies from the state after revenues fell $100 million short of covering debt and operating costs, officials said.

WASHINGTON - An investor holding bonds wrapped with insurance from ACA Financial Guaranty Corp. has filed a lawsuit against the moribund insurer, which says it is no longer obligated to pay insurance claims related to the bonds following the issuer’s Chapter 9 restructuring agreement.

SAN FRANCISCO - A controversial Alaska public-private partnership toll bridge project has moved a step ahead this month despite years of hurdles.

A bill signed last week by Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal will complete the final $160 million of financing for two segments of Interstate 49 North that will connect Shreveport to the Arkansas line.