Daily News Briefs, July 18, 2017

This is a Subscribers-Only area. If you are a subscriber, please login. If not...

Become a Subscriber Today »

Don't Have a Password Already? Not Seeing the Complete Edition of Daily News Briefs (Stories from NYC, Miami, Sydney, California)?

It’s easy and only takes a moment to get a personal password that will give you free access through July 28 to the complete edition of today’s Daily News Briefs . . . just click here.

Top


If Bridge Tolls Increase, North Bay Area Counties Would Get Half a Billion More in Highway Funds

Petaluma Argus-Courier reports that if Bay Area voters get a chance to approve a referendum to raise tolls on state-owned bridges, Marin and Sonoma Counties would receive about $580 million that would “contribute to fixes for some of the North Bay’s most vexing roadway problems, including the Highway 101 Narrows in Novato and flood-prone stretches of Highway 37. . . .” Money would start to become available in 2020, a state senator tells the newspaper.

California San Francisco Bay Area (CA)

Top


New Report Suggests a HOT Lane Remedy for Denver Interstate's Congestion

The Gazette reports, “A new report from the Boulder-based Southwest Energy Efficiency Project asserts tolling could help drive traffic remedies on Interstate 25 through Denver. The idea would be to take an existing lane and put on price on it.” According to The Gazette, a co-author of the report acknowledges that a HOT lanes proposal faces “long political odds in [Colorado’s] current political environment.” [Link inserted.]

Colorado Denver CO Metro Region

Top


Delays of Silver Line Project to Cost $95 Million

WTOP reports, “A series of delays that pushed back the opening of the Silver Line to 2020 will cost $95 million. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which is responsible for overseeing Capital Rail Constructors’ construction of the line, disclosed the final $95 million settlement in a presentation prepared for its board meeting Wednesday.” The report adds that the authority “forecasts the overall project will remain within its current budget of $2.778 billion. The work has cost $1.287 billion so far.”

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) Washington (DC) Metro Region

Top


Salvaged Tappan Zee Bridge Deck Panels Go on Sale for $1. NYSDOT and Orange County (NY) Are Buying.

Times Herald-Record reports, “Orange County’s request for 14 of the deck panels that will be salvaged from the old Tappan Zee Bridge was approved Monday, at the bargain-basement rate of $1 a panel, including delivery. The county is one of eight, along with four regional offices of the state Department of Transportation, that got in line when the New York State Thruway Authority announced 150 relatively new panels would be available at below-market prices before the old bridge was demolished.”

New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) New York State Thruway Authority

Top


Tolling US 1 in the Keys May Get Another Local Government's Support

FLKeysNews.com reports that the Marathon, Florida, City Council directed staff to prepare the draft of a resolution “supporting a toll for non-residents traveling into the Keys on U.S. 1.” The Monroe County Commission and the Islamorada Village Council have already endorsed a study of the toll proposal.

Florida Monroe County, Florida

Top


Trump, Congress Draw Editorial Fire for Lack of Action on Infrastructure

The Des Moines Register editorial board criticizes President Trump for not delivering on his promises about infrastructure investment, writing, “The ‘Make America Great Again’ crowd wants new infrastructure but also views taxes as government confiscation of their personal wealth. . . . Trump and every member of Congress knows this, which is why no one in the White House or the Capitol . . . has the courage or political will to back legislation that would require the spending of $1 trillion in additional taxpayer money.”

Trump Administration Infrastructure Plan

Top


IFM CEO Says "US Will Create Enormous Opportunities" If States Recycle Capital for New Infrastructure

The Australian Financial Review reports, “The US will create ‘enormous’ opportunities for Australian investors if its states recycle capital to invest in new infrastructure, says IFM Investors chief executive Brett Himbury. Mr Himbury returned last week from meetings with US states, meetings with governors, treasurers and advisors, as part of an ongoing push by IFM and other superannuation funds to encourage the US to sell off infrastructure assets.”

Australia Infrastructure Investment Trends Trump Administration Infrastructure Plan

Top


IFM-Led Consortium and "Local Fund Managers" Spar over Toll Road Operator OHL Mexico

The Australian Financial Review reports that a Melbourne-based  institutional investor claims that a  consortium led by IFM and advised by Goldman Sachs “is attempting to lowball and intimidate local fund managers into giving up a valuable Latin American infrastructure asset” — their minority stake in the toll road operator OHL Mexico –“for below market price.” IFM declined to comment.

Acquisitions and Mergers Australia Mexico

Top