Daily News Briefs, August 7, 2019

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Transurban Increases Holdings, Sees New Sydney Tunnel Traffic Beat Projections

The Sydney Morning Herald reports, “The number of motorists using the new M4 tunnels under Sydney’s inner west has been higher than expected in the weeks since they were opened last month, toll road operator Transurban says. Weekday trips through the 5.5-kilometre twin tunnels — the first major stage of the $16.8 billion WestConnex toll road . . . have averaged 82,000. Including the widened M4 . . . , trips along the entire tolled section of the motorway averaged almost 170,000 on weekdays, which is higher than Transurban’s expectations.”

The Herald’s article also notes, “Transurban will tighten its grip on Sydney’s toll road network after announcing [today] that it will buy the remaining 35 per cent stake in the M5 South-West from Prestons to Beverly Hills it does not already own for $468 million. The 22-kilometre toll road will be folded into WestConnex at the end of 2026, meaning the tolling regime will be extended on that section of motorway until 2060.”

Dow Jones (through Morningstar.com) reports that Transurban plans to raise “up to 700 million Australian dollars (US$473.3 million) in new capital” to fund the M5 buyout.

Australia Mergers and Acquisitions New South Wales Transurban WestConnex Project (New South Wales)

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WSDOT Moves Self-Service Center in Anticipation of Toll System Upgrade

The News Tribune reports on the opening of a new location for the Good To Go! toll system self-service center in Gig Harbor, Washington. According to the article, the center’s move was prompted in part by WSDOT’s forthcoming conversion to a new toll system platform that will include a “pay-as-you-go option” for credit card and bank account holders. The Gig Harbor facility is reportedly “the most popular walk-in center in the state, seeing around 53,000 customers each year. It is operated under contract by AECOM Energy and Construction.”

Customer Service Experience ETC Systems Good To Go! Toll System Washington State Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)

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India Infrastructure Fund Gets Boost from Aussie, Canadian Pension Managers

Livemint reports, India’s National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Ltd (NIIF), a government-backed, investor-owned fund manager, “has received commitments of about $2 billion from AustralianSuper, Australia’s largest superannuation and pension fund, and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan . . . , one of Canada’s largest single-profession pension plans, Mint reported. These include commitments of $250 million each into NIIF’s master fund, and co-investment rights of up to $750 million each in future opportunities alongside the master fund. The investment also makes AustralianSuper and Ontario Teachers’ shareholders in NIIF.”

Australia Canada India Infrastructure Investment Trends Ontario

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These are just a few of the toll industry developments TRN is following.

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