Transportation industry

CHICAGO — While Illinois lawmakers temporarily adjourned last week without passing a fiscal 2011 budget, they did approve legislation establishing a commission that will lead the initial planning effort for a regional high-speed rail system.

WASHINGTON — Congressional appropriators will be hard-pressed to provide more funding for high-speed rail for fiscal 2011 unless there is clear evidence that the $10.5 billion lawmakers approved for the sector has been used by state and local governments, a congressional staffer said yesterday at a rail industry meeting here.

After exhausting its borrowing capacity and faced with uncertain federal funding levels, Missouri’s proposed five-year transportation improvement program now calls for about $500 million in annual spending on construction grants, down sharply from the $1.25 billion spent annually under the previous program.

WASHINGTON — Virginia on Wednesday expects to competitively price $492.7 million of transportation bonds — the state’s first bond offering from a $3 billion debt program approved in 2007.

The House Ways and Means Committee’s select revenue measures panel will hold a hearing Thursday on proposals to create an infrastructure bank.

WASHINGTON — Citing market turbulence, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said late Friday it would delay its second deal to finance construction of a Metrorail extension that will ultimately link downtown Washington, D.C., with Washington Dulles International Airport.

Gov. Edward Rendell last week nominated William Lieberman to serve as a commissioner of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.

ALAMEDA, Calif. — California’s plans for a bond-financed high-speed passenger train system are in critics’ crosshairs following the release last week of a critical report by the state ­auditor.

Airport executives are accusing airlines of being hypocritical, claiming they are arguing against airports increasing passenger facility charges while collecting increased revenue from fees for baggage and other amenities.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Three consortiums representing 15 local, national, and international firms have submitted qualifications to the Georgia Department of Transportation for consideration to develop the state’s first public-private partnership road project.

Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell yesterday announced proposals to address a transportation funding shortfall, including a short-term plan in which the state would sell $1 billion of debt during the next two years.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Transit Administration has launched a $775 million grant program to help local and state governments finance capital projects involving buses and bus facilities. The allocations will be announced in September.

Fitch Ratings last week downgraded its rating on the 2007 debt of the I-470 and 350 Transportation Development District to BBB-plus from A, though the rating is rising to A-minus due to Fitch’s ongoing recalibration of municipal ratings.

Chicago told the Federal Aviation Administration in a quarterly report that it continues to hopes it can resurrect a proposed privatization of Midway Airport.

NEW YORK - The New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority Monday approved up to $1.8 billion, in par value, of borrowing for fiscal 2011 to support road, bridge, and public transportation projects.

CHICAGO — A marriage between Chicago-based United Airlines and Houston-based Continental Airlines may have a limited impact on their key airport facilities, as they operate mostly complementary routes, but it could add to the negative pressures posed by industry consolidation, market participants said yesterday.

DALLAS — The North Texas Tollway Authority plans to test the market’s appetite for a $400 million issue of its lowest-rated debt this week.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg appointed Stephen Goldsmith, a privatization expert, as his deputy mayor for operations.

New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority last week approved a revised $26.27 billion, five-year capital program at its monthly board meeting. The plan slashes $1.8 billion from an earlier proposal that Gov. David Paterson rejected last year as unaffordable. It now goes to a state oversight board for consideration.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation this week issued guidance on how state and local governments should apply for $600 million for projects under a competitive discretionary grant program.