revenue

407ETR in Toronto the world's first all-electronic tollroad reports revenues of C$560m in calender 2009 a 2.5% increase on 2008's $546.5m. At C$1=US$0.931 2009 revenue is US$521.4m. (All further $#s are C$s)

Traffic dropped 2.6% to 303.5k/day from 2008's 311.7k/day, average workday trips from 377.9k to 367.3k. But average trip distance was up slightly and vehicle-kms traveled were 2,214.8m down 1.7% on the 2,252.7m of 2008.

Leading concessionaire Macquarie report that their weighted average of traffic worldwide was up 1.6% in the last quarter, July-September, an improvement on the low point early this year. Greatest traffic strength was on the APRR motorway network in central France, up 3.4% over last year, and Westlink Sydney up 5.7%. The American pikes were the poor performers in traffic with the exception of Chicago Skyway.

Rising Democrat Party legislative star Rep Pete DeFazio, chairman of the House Highways and Transit committee has introduced a bill, HR3379, which he says fully funds a huge expansion of US transport spending without costing consumers a cent. DeFazio's bill has the acronym LOPSIDED Oil Prices Act, 'lopsided' standing for Lowering Oil Price Speculation for Infrastructure Dedicated to Economic Development.

Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) is seeking qualifications from traffic and revenue consultants for an important set of investment grade studies. RITBA operates the tolled Newport/Pell Bridge and maintains the Mount Hope Bridge, both major suspension spans.

A major French toll motorway Autoroutes Paris-Rhin-Rhone (APRR) is suffering declines in traffic somewhat similar in scale to US tollroads. According to a report to the Australian Stock Exchange APRR's vehicle-km traveled declined to 4.54b in the December quarter of 2008 vs 4.73b in Dec Q 2007, a decline of 4.1%.

NJ PIKES