Daily News Briefs, January 24, 2023

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Federal Decision To Block OK Turnpike Extension Route Echoed Opponents' Criticism

The Oklahoman reports, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) spent $3.3 million surveying and studying a proposed South Extension Turnpike route that the US Interior Department’s Bureau of Reclamation has now blocked out of concern over its environmental impact on Lake Thunderbird and adjacent bureau lands. Similar objections were raised by project opponents within weeks of the route’s disclosure by OTA. According to the newspaper, “The bureau’s ruling continues a string of setbacks for [the ACCESS Oklahoma expansion program], which started with a denial to use a line of credit to pay for engineering and a court ruling that determined the turnpike authority willfully violated the Oklahoma Open Meetings Act when it failed to give residents information about the expansions before their introduction to turnpike commissioners.”

KFOR, in an update to its coverage of this story, reports that the Bureau of Reclamation has indicated a “willingness to work with OTA on an alignment across [Lake Thunderbird] pipeline and flowage easements.” In a statement, OTA Deputy Director Joe Echelle said the authority will work on a route plan that does not interfere with the bureau’s easement interests.

Environmental Protection Policies Procedures And Initiatives Oklahoma Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) US Interior Department

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UK Infrastructure Fund Acquires M6 Tollway Stake From IFM Investors

“IP&E Real Assets” reports, “GLIL Infrastructure, the fund backed by a number of UK local government pension schemes, has acquired a 25% stake in [the M6 tollway near Birmingham] owned by an IFM Investors fund. GLIL said it bought the indirect interest in the M6toll concessionaire from a subsidiary of the IFM Global Infrastructure Fund (IFM GIF). Financial details were undisclosed. IFM GIF has been invested in M6toll since 2017 and will continue to indirectly own 75%. Aleatica, a global transport infrastructure operator and developer owned by the IFM GIF, manages M6toll.” (TRN added and replaced links in the quoted text.)

Aleatica issued a news release in which its Europe region director, Joaquin Gago, commented, “We warmly welcome GLIL Infrastructure as our partner in this vital piece of UK infrastructure. As we seek to grow our portfolio of assets in Europe, we look forward to benefitting from the expertise of long-term infrastructure investors, such as IFM and GLIL, over the coming years. . . . “

Acquisitions and Mergers Aleatica IFM Investors Infrastructure Investment Trends M6toll (Midland Expressway LTD) (UK) United Kingdom

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Maryland Governor Will Nominate Ex-Washington Metro Chief To Lead DOT

The Washington Post reports that Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) will name Paul Wiedefeld, former general manager of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, as the state’s next transportation secretary. The article notes, “Wiedefeld would be one of the most high-profile figures to be nominated by Moore, who took office a week ago and has been assembling his Cabinet. If approved by the state Senate, Wiedefeld would assume leadership of a department that Moore has identified as critical to his campaign promise to ‘leave no one behind,’ describing transportation as a key component to providing equity.”

Appointments-Promotions-Retirements Maryland Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) Washington (DC) Metro Area Transit Authority

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

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