Daily News Brief, July 18, 2016

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NCDOT I-77 Express Project Environmental Application Is Tabled

Mooresville Tribune reports, “Concerns about how additional traffic on the causeways will affect Lake Norman have delayed a crucial environmental application for the Interstate 77 express (toll) lanes project. At its meeting last week, the Lake Norman Marine Commission tabled [NCDOT’s] Transportation’s Federal Energy Regulatory Commission application as the lake board seeks answers to some of its questions about the project’s impact. . . .”

I-77 Express Lanes (NC) North Carolina

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A Deep Dive on Ohio River Bridges Project Traffic Diversion

WDRB-TV News (Louisville) has an extensive report on traffic diversion likely to result from the Ohio River Bridges project, noting that “Kentucky and Indiana are spending billions to build and repair three bridges between Louisville and Clark County, Ind. — then charging tolls to use them — so most drivers are expected to choose toll-free routes instead.” The article looks at diversion to “some structures downgraded by inspectors in recent years to ‘poor’ condition, according to a WDRB News analysis of federal data and inspection reports obtained under state public records laws.”

Indiana Kentucky Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges

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NTTA's Contractor Diversity Efforts Continue to Deliver Results

Focus Daily News (DeSoto, TX) reports on the success of the North Texas Tollway Authority’s contractor diversity efforts, particularly the Relationships and Opportunities Advancing Diversity (ROAD) program. ROAD connects minority- or women-owned businesses with prime contractors that act as mentors. Anthony Coleman, NTTA’s Director of Business Diversity, tells the newspaper that the authority’s “diversity participation numbers are up 24 percent since the ROAD program started.”

Texas Transportation and Infrastructure Leadership And Workforce Diversity

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Why Did VA Best MD in the FASTLANE Grant Competition?

The Baltimore Sun publishes an op-ed by two Central Maryland Transportation Alliance officials who consider why Virginia hit a home run in this year’s federal FASTLANE grant competition and Maryland struck out. Looking ahead, the authors contend that, “To increase its odds of success the Maryland DOT needs to do three things: think comprehensively and creatively across transportation modes; leverage more state and private resources; and demonstrate it is a trustworthy partner.”

Maryland Virginia

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PA Pike Commits $66 Million for New Montgomery County Interchange

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports, “The state Turnpike Commission has agreed to provide $66 million over the next eight years to help fund one of Montgomery County’s largest transportation projects: expanding highway access through an interchange that could benefit Norristown.”

Pennsylvania

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IL Newspaper Cheers (and Frets about) Houbolt Road Bridge P3 Proposal

The Herald-News (Joliet, IL) editorial board writes, “Count us among those excited to hear the announcement [on July 11] of a public-private partnership that aims to build a bridge at Houbolt Road off Interstate 80 in Joliet.” However, the editors also note the “tepid reaction” to the project (or, at the very least, the hint of caution).

Illinois

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Canadian Taxpayers Federation Argues against Tolls for Highway Twinning

The Chronicle Herald (Halifax, NS) reports, “A taxpayer advocacy group is speaking out against using tolls to pay for $2 billion worth of highway twinning.” A spokesman for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation calls the proposed tolls “just another tax. We want government to prioritize its spending and live with their means [sic].”  

Canada

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Toronto Newspaper Goes to Bat for Tolls

Toronto Star editors contend that, “Opponents of highway tolls received fresh fuel for their views this past week with a report indicating that such charges would penalize low-income commuters. But that rather obvious conclusion doesn’t mean road pricing should be dropped as a revenue tool. On the contrary, when it comes to funding public transit and reducing highway gridlock, tolls remain a fair and justifiable option.”

Canada

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Debate over CT Participation in RUC Pilot Program

Connecticut Post reports, “A plan to spend $300,000 to study how to charge motorists for miles driven on Connecticut’s highways is fueling accusations that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is speeding toward a new mileage tax

Connecticut Road Use Charging (RUC-MBUF-VMT)

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MTA Pension Liabilities Spotlighted

The Wall Street Journal reports, “New accounting rules are shining a light on more than $7 billion in pension liabilities facing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. While the disclosures won’t force the MTA to raise tolls or cut service, they quantify the authority’s tab for commitments to pay retirees, and some critics detect a mounting potential burden on riders and taxpayers.”

New York

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Fitch on NTE Mobility Partners North Tarrant Bonds

Fitch Ratings “has affirmed the ‘BBB-‘ rating on the NTE Mobility Partners . . . North Tarrant Express Managed Lanes Project’s $400 million senior lien revenue bonds issued by the Texas Private Activity Bond (PAB) Surface Transportation Corporation. Fitch has also affirmed the ‘BBB-‘ rating on the NTE’s $650 million Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan.”

Investment Ratings P3 & Privatization Texas

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VC Firm Raises $100 Million Transit Technology Fund

Law360 (subscription required) reports, “Transportation technology-focused venture capital firm Fontinalis Partners, led by Latham & Watkins LLP, raised a new $100 million fund to back investment opportunities that promise technological advances for the transit sector. . . .” 

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