Transportation industry

WASHINGTON — Rail advocates are urging the federal government to partner with states to develop a national high-speed rail network. The partnership should be modeled after the Interstate highway system, and Washington should share the costs of projects and create a dedicated funding source similar to the federal highway trust fund, they told members of the House Transportation rail subcommittee Wednesday afternoon.

Washington motorists appear willing to ante up to make up for budget cuts to state parks.

DALLAS — Regional transportation planners in the Phoenix area will take the first step toward a rail link to the western suburb of Glendale next week with the $878,000 study of the new route.

Atlanta officials announced Friday that in preparation for the upcoming sale of debt for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, a due-diligence review found a number of errors in classifying expenses dating back to 2003.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority broke state law when it agreed to new sale terms for the Vanderbilt rail yards in Brooklyn, plaintiffs allege in a suit filed yesterday in New York State Supreme Court.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Florida Department of Transportation Secretary ­Stephanie Kopelousos said this week that her agency has received the necessary letter of credit from Miami for a portion of its funding for the $1 billion Port of Miami Tunnel project.

The Federal Railroad Administration was so swamped with applications for the $8 billion of high-speed rail funding authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that it is delaying until the winter its announcement of the grant winners.

DALLAS — With tolling options closed, the Texas Transportation Commission is considering funding sources for a $2.2 billion expansion of heavily traveled Interstate 35 to six lanes from San Antonio to the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The Chicago Transit Authority this week proposed a $1.3 billion 2010 budget that relies on a fare hike, service cuts, other spending reductions, and dipping into capital funding to eliminate a $300 million operating deficit.

DALLAS — Facing strong headwinds from the ongoing recession and a weak airline industry, Denver plans to issue $235 million of fixed-rate airport bonds next week and $100 million of variable-rate bonds in November.

CHICAGO — Investment banks interested in working on the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority’s new-money and refunding bond sales planned over at least the next two years have until Oct. 20 to submit their qualifications to the agency.

The Oklahoma Transportation Commission last week delayed the awarding of contracts for a number of highway projects due to questions over the continued availability of federal funding.

A significant drop in sales tax revenue may require Phoenix to reduce its bus system’s $171 million annual operating budget by $16 million in fiscal 2011 to avoid an operating fund deficit.

WASHINGTON — The trustee for millions of dollars of toll revenue bonds issued in 1998 to finance South Carolina’s first publicly owned and privately built toll road, the Southern Connector Project, is warning investors that the bonds will probably default on Jan. 1, 2010, because of insufficient revenue.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s $28.08 billion five year-capital plan is unaffordable, New York Gov. David Paterson said yesterday, adding that the State Department of Transportation’s $25.8 billion five-year plan is too costly as well.

WASHINGTON — Groups representing student loan bond issuers, port authorities, and airports are asking Congress to permanently exempt private-activity bonds from the alternative minimum tax and allow all current PABs to be refinanced to obtain the exemption

CHICAGO — Chicago expects to tap an array of federal stimulus debt programs in its sales of up to $2.85 billion of new-money and refunding general obligation and airport bonds that were submitted to the City Council for approval yesterday, chief financial officer Gene Saffold said.

The National Governors Association adopted a policy opposing federal restrictions on public-private partnerships after a multiyear transportation authorization bill introduced in the House proposed creating a federal office to oversee see P3s on highways that receive federal aid.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has been making the rounds across the country, telling those vying for $8 billion in federal stimulus funds for high-speed and intercity rail projects that united public and official support — and state funding — are key elements for successful applicants.

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin said Monday that she has recommended the City Council approve legislation that would extend the lease between Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Delta Air Lines covering gates and other space for seven years, ensuring that the world’s busiest airport does not lose its largest hub airline.