The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) has scheduled a meeting Sept 17 in Harrisburg for companies interested in what they call a public private partnership (P3) for the remaining three sections of the Mon Fayette Expressway and Southern Beltway near Pittsburgh. We think it's a toll concession they have in mind. (see Terminology at bottom) Join discussion...

The private sector has more than $400 billion in the pipeline to be invested in planned and existing roads, bridges, airports and other infrastructure. Michigan, officials say, needs to start planning for ways to take advantage of that money. Join discussion...

Mississippi DOT is looking for investor groups to develop a new highspeed toll link between downtown Jackson and the Airport - 20km (12 miles) of expressway including a major new bridge over the Pearl River. The project which goes back nearly two decades has also been known as the Airport Parkway and MS25 Connectors because a lot of the expected traffic will come from north and east of the Airport - Flowood, Perl, Brandon and the Ross Barnette lake. Join discussion...

At the release of its annual results earlier this month, Australia's biggest investment bank reiterated that it held $3 billion in excess balance sheet liquidity as a buffer for "volatility, growth and strategic flexibility". Join discussion...

Podgorica, Montenegro, May 2008— International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, today signed an agreement with Montenegro’s Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs, and Telecommunications to provide advisory services on structuring and implementing a public-private partnership for the Bar-Boljare Motorway to help improve transportation. IFC will serve as lead advisor to the ministry, helping attract developers for the new road. Join discussion...

Georgia needs more transportation funding, and it needs to look beyond roads and bridges to improve mobility in the Atlanta region. Join discussion...

The Greenville Southern Connector in South Carolina is getting an investment grade traffic and revenue study, and meanwhile the procurement of a concession is on hold. Peter Femia, general manager of the Connector 2000 Association a not-for-profit which operates the tollroad under a 50 year license from the state told us their financial advisers Goldman Sachs recommended the T&R study and other measures before the association pressed forward with the private concession. Join discussion...

THE Macquarie Group's airport ambitions in the US have spread to Texas, where its infrastructure division is in talks to lease all or part of the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in the Texas capital, Austin. A Macquarie spokesman confirmed yesterday that discussions with Austin officials were under way but stressed they were at a "very preliminary stage", with no formal proposal for an ABIA takeover on the table. Join discussion...

Macquarie Power & Infrastructure Income Fund (TSX: MPT.UN)(TSX: MPT.DB)("MPT" or the "Fund"), which invests in essential infrastructure assets in North America, today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008. The Fund's Management's Discussion and Analysis and unaudited financial statements are available on the Fund's website at www.macquarie.com/mpt and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Join discussion...

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it has revised the outlook on its 'BBB+' corporate credit ratings on Transurban Finance Co. Pty Ltd. to stable from negative, citing the Australian toll-road operator's improved financial risk profile. Join discussion...