Transportation industry

A bill that would reduce the powers of the New Hampshire Rail Transit Authority and strip it of its ability to issue bonds is headed to Gov. John Lynch.

The Massachusetts Port Authority has named chief legal counsel David Mackey as interim chief executive officer and executive director while it conducts a national search to replace Thomas Kinton, who retired June 1.

DALLAS — The plan to balance Oklahoma's $6.5 billion budget with a diversion of highway tax revenues has been challenged as unconstitutional by an Oklahoma City attorney.

CHICAGO — Facing a funding crisis, the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission has adopted a five-year budget plan that eliminates more than 1,000 positions and shutters facilities to save $500 million for project funding as the agency recedes from the ranks of frequent issuers.

The Nevada Assembly approved a bill Tuesday to support a public-private partnership to build a bypass toll road around Boulder City.

Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency’s rating to B1 from Ba2 after the agency completed a restructuring of its debt.

Lawmakers in the California Senate have approved a bill that will allow counties to raise and collect vehicle license fees.

DALLAS — A bill that would authorize $9 billion of highway construction in North Texas through public-private partnerships is expected to get Gov. Rick Perry’s signature by the June 19 deadline.

The Massachusetts Port Authority on Wednesday will sell $215 million of special facilities revenue debt, including $156 million of taxable bonds, in a two-tranche offering to help finance the construction of a consolidated rental car facility at Boston’s Logan International Airport.

Connecticut may implement tolls and possibly leverage that revenue stream to help finance a potential $1 billion Route 11 extension project in the southeastern portion of the state.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn last week announced a state partnership with the University of Illinois and a special advisory group to study the feasibility of high-speed rail service between Chicago and Champaign-Urbana and possibly to other parts of the state and neighboring cities.

A coalition of House Democrats is calling for Build America Bonds, a national infrastructure bank, and high-speed rail as part of a plan to improve transportation and stimulate job growth.

WASHINGTON — The Maryland Transportation Authority is proposing its first statewide toll increases to generate more revenue to back bonds that were issued for two major highway projects and for rehabilitating aging infrastructure.

Massachusetts’ largest public transportation agency Tuesday will leverage future parking revenues through a newly formed nonprofit entity to pay down outstanding debt and provide near-term budget relief.

CHICAGO — With the budget behind him, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder said his top priority is swift passage of a bill that allows the state to enter into a public-private partnership to build a $4 billion Detroit River bridge that will be partially financed with tax-exempt bonds.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has scheduled a second meeting with local officials in Virginia for Friday as he tries to break an impasse over the cost of the second phase of the Washington, D.C., Metrorail extension to Dulles International Airport.

WASHINGTON — State and local transportation decision-making fits no pattern and varies widely cross the country as governments try to cope with needs that overwhelm their available financing, according to a first-of-a-kind report released Wednesday.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Less than 30 days remain before an expected payment default on the bonds issued by the Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority to build the tolled 3.5-mile-long Garcon Point Bridge in northern Florida.

Fitch Ratings last week revised the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority’s outlook to negative ahead of a planned refunding.

After years of delays, the $1.8 billion, 26-mile toll road known as the Wekiva Parkway is finally getting a jump-start.