Transportation industry

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.

DALLAS — The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, the first toll road agency of its kind in Texas, is looking for yield-hungry investors willing to take a risk on $374 million of revenue bonds at or below investment grade next week.

WASHINGTON — House Transportation Committee chairman John Mica wants to take the Northeast rail corridor away from Amtrak and privatize most of it to get true high-speed rail service — trains that can travel at 220 miles per hour.

Senate transportation committee leaders have agreed to fund the TIFIA program at $1 billion per year as part of a six-year highway and transit funding bill that they plan to introduce in two weeks.

The Illinois General Assembly recently passed legislation to establish a commission charged with recommending the best way to implement a public-private partnership to aid in financing, construction and operation of a high-speed rail system.

Oklahoma Lawmakers revived a bill authorizing a $70 million state road bond issue last week just 24 hours after the proposal was narrowly defeated.

The Puerto Rico Public-Private Partnerships Authority within the next three weeks will receive bids from private operators on a concession agreement for the island’s busiest toll road.

New Jersey needs to create new revenue streams to help support the state’s transportation infrastructure needs, according to a report released last week by the Tri-State Transportation Campaign.

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire is looking for a new source of revenue to help pay for transportation projects.

WASHINGTON — Loudoun County, Va., is looking at the possible impact of withdrawing its funding for the Washington, D.C., Metrorail extension to Dulles International Airport.