concession

Michigan legislators have passed language in their budget for next fiscal year to prepare the way for concessioning a third toll crossing to Canada from Detroit. The budget contains $2.5m for the Michigan DOT to continue to advance preliminary legal, financial, engineering and environmental permitting to prepare for seeking a private sector toll concessionaire to finance, build, and operate the bridge.

Mississippi DOT (MsDOT) have announced "suspension" of the procurement process for a private sector concession to build the state's first tollroad in the modern era - Jackson Airport Parkway.

The Russians been talking about upgrading the 650km (405mi) road between Moscow and St Petersburg with toll concessions for about a decade now, during which time China's provinces have opened about 15,000 kilometers of toll expressway using scores of private companies investments.

Florida DOT is restarting the procurement of a toll concession to build and operate the Jacksonville First Coast Outer Beltway. This week they lodged a notice withdrawing the first procurement which was delayed about a year while the state obtained legislation exempting concessionaires from property tax.

Dallas Morning News' Michael Lindenberger got the story first that the recently signed 52 year concession contract between Cintra and partners and TxDOT for the North Tarrant Express project is being held up by the state Attorney General, Greg Abbott on the grounds that it is not "legally sufficient." He has been arguing that the contract is unconstitutional  and the News quotes him: "The Texas Constitution says that one Legislature cannot financ

Mississippi DOT's procurement of a toll concessionaire to build a new Airport Parkway tollroad for the state capital of Jackson is delayed several months by the world financial crisis. But the official leading the process is optimistic it will proceed. A final Request for Proposals was issued March 12 and there's now a June 15 deadline for proposals.

Florida DOT says they got no bids for the toll concession they were offering on Alligator Alley. Four major international groups had registered interest and been advanced to the bid stage. There was already one delay in the deadline for bids.

North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA) signed a project development agreement today with an ACS-led group that gives them a right of first refusal on building the Outer Banks' Mid-Currituck bridge as a longterm toll concession. Environmental permitting is under way. The development group will bear the bulk of the costs of remaining project development including:

Florida DOT is giving bidders for the Alligator Alley (I-75) toll concession an extra ten days. Bidders have told FDOT they need more time beyond the latest May 8 bid deadline in order to put borrowings in place.

New deadline for bids is May 18.

Legislation is moving through the Texas legislature to virtually preclude further private tollroad development in the state. SB17 sponsored by state senator Robert Nichols (Republican) builds on SB792 the 'moratorium' bill of 2007 and is even more hostile to private toll concessions.