Skip to main content

“Stable” 2014 for U.S. toll roads market, says Fitch Ratings

The 2014 outlook for U.S. toll roads, airports, and ports is stable despite tepid growth, according to a new Fitch Ratings report. “The growing use of Public Private Partnership, or P3, transactions to construct new or expand existing projects is largely motivated by limited resources at the state and local level, combined with uncertainty on future federal funding levels,” said Scott Zuchorski, director in Global Infrastructure and Project Finance at Fitch Ratings. “While not a panacea for all funding is
December 11, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
The 2014 outlook for U.S. toll roads, airports, and ports is stable despite tepid growth, according to a new Fitch Ratings report.

“The growing use of Public Private Partnership, or P3, transactions to construct new or expand existing projects is largely motivated by limited resources at the state and local level, combined with uncertainty on future federal funding levels,” said Scott Zuchorski, director in Global Infrastructure and Project Finance at Fitch Ratings.

“While not a panacea for all funding issues, governments are increasingly looking to P3s for transportation projects where the economics make sense. Two-thirds of states currently have P3 enabling legislation in place, and given the size of future capital needs, Fitch expects transportation P3s to continue to rise in 2014.”

The stable 2014 outlook for the U.S. toll roads sector is said by Fitch Ratings to reflect continued slow growth in aggregate driving across the country. The firm reports that even in a declining traffic scenario, mature assets and systems with a combination of pricing power, robust liquidity and moderate leverage retain considerable resilience to sustain current rating levels. According to Fitch Ratings, forecasting risk remains high for recently constructed or green field standalone projects, which may be more vulnerable to a sustained weak economic environment.

Related Content

  • Pan-European move
    July 19, 2012
    CECE covers all of the EC and is pushing hard for further investment in infrastructure construction as a means to revitalise the economy. “Our industry looks forward to the implementation of the right policies and incentives to nurture sustainable growth and jobs”, said Ralf Wezel, CECE secretary general. CECE and the European contractor’s association FIEC believe that investment in transport is essential for growth and jobs. To strengthen European competitiveness, delivery of this much needed investment mu
  • Volvo CE boosted by solid Q3 growth outside China
    October 22, 2021
    Volvo CE has been boosted by solid growth in the third quarter outside of China.
  • US transportation funding development
    June 29, 2012
    US Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John L. Mica (R-FL) announced recently that House and Senate conferees are concluding a bicameral, bipartisan agreement on a major transportation bill. The measure focuses on unprecedented reforms by cutting red tape and consolidating federal transportation programmes. The tentative agreement establishes federal highway, transit and highway safety policy and keeps programmes at current funding levels through the end of fiscal year 2014. Unlike the last
  • New funding for 44 infrastructure projects
    December 26, 2024
    New funding awards escalate the launch of 44 major infrastructure projects.