Briefs

The toll concession process for Route One in Tel Aviv is being delayed a bit to attract more bidders. Cross Israel Highway, the state owned company in charge of franchising the toll express operation on the busy highway between Ben Gurion Airport and downtown Tel Aviv reports that because of relaxation in the financial conditions for involvement it will allow more time for proposals.

Deadlines are now:

* for clarification questions July 1,

* for submission of applications August 1,

* announcement of short list Sept 14.

The intelligensia never understood Ronald Reagan. That was the first thing I learned when I arrived in America in April 1980. After seeing him on TV I liked the guy. He seemed the perfect counter to the timorous Jimmy Carter. He conveyed an easygoing confidence and strength appropriate to America that was totally lacking in Carter, the wimp. And Reagan's optimism was uplifting. Even his fumbles were endearing.

Macquarie Infrastructure Group (MIG) will sell its 40 percent share in international tollster Cintra in a public offering on the Madrid stock exchange toward the end of the year. And as part of an agreement with Ferrovial, the majority shareholder in Cintra, a 13.87% direct shareholding of Cintra in 407ETR will be transferred to Macquarie in exchange for 11.99% of Macquarie's investment in Cintra. The 88.01% remaining of MIG's stake in Cintra will go in a public float or Initial Public Offering in Spain.

Russian president Vladimir Putin said tollroads were "an urgent priority" in his annual State of the Nation address May 26. His speech focussed on the need to develop the Russian economy and his most radical proposal was for full convertibility of the ruble. Putin said he expected the Russian government to develop a list of tollroad projects for all "main routes." In all cases there would have to be an alternative free road.

Early May transport and communications minister Igor Levitin said his ministry will produce draft proposals on tollroads in Russia by Oct 1.

Most transport planners in the US will tell you of buses that (1) they don't have the carrying capacity of light rail and (2) they need to be government operated and (3) they always, everywhere need subsidies. All wrong. Brazil has superb, high capacity bus service, operated by private operators without subsidies. See this from "Brazil's buses" by UCTC Berkeley staffer Aaron Golub in ACCESS magazine (#24 Spring 2004 p2):

Violations are running at 13% on the Beaver Valley Expressway (PA60), a non-paying spur tollroad off the mainline in the west of the state, according to Joe Grata of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. He reports (2004-05-31) an estimate the Turnpike is losing $0.7m/year from violations on the Expressway and also on the Greensburg Bypass (PA60), another "pork pike" as these lightly trafficked politically inspired roads are termed.

Brisbane Australia's Logan Motorway will continue as a tollroad. Federal minister for roads, Ian Campbell has said he is dropping plans to incorporate the state owned tollroad in the toll-free national highway network, according to a local report. The state government of Queensland demanded $700m (A$980m) in return for handing over the toll highway to the feds. Campbell originally justified his takeover bid by saying that elimination of the toll would attract traffic off congested local streets in Mt Gravatt, a suburb of Brisbane.