Alexandra Atiya

Canadian infrastructure group Atco has agreed to acquire a 74.1% stake in an Australian gas utility from a subsidiary of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners. Sydney-listed DUET has also agreed to sell its 25.9% stake in the utility to Atco and to acquire stakes in other assets held by the Brookfield subsidiary.

Chicago-based InterPark manages parking systems, and underwrites and invests in parking properties. Financial details of the acquisition, which closed at the end of June, were not disclosed.

The project involves the construction of a new tunnel and a 12.5km electric light rail line in downtown Ottawa. The winning bidder will be expected to finance up to C$400m of the project costs.

California Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer, who chairs the Environment and Public Works Committee, has proposed a two-year, $109bn transport bill to replace current legislation expiring on 30 September, while House Republicans led by John Mica (right) are suggesting a six-year, $230bn plan.

Tony Kinn, a former director at Virginia’s Department of Economic Development, has been appointed to lead the state’s newly-opened Office of Transportation Public-Private Partnerships, which works with Virginia’s Secretary of Transportation to coordinate various PPPs across seven state agencies.

Puerto Rico hopes to select a winning bidder for the 40- to 50-year concession of Luis Muñoz Marín International airport by December 31. If the privatisation succeeds, the private operator will be required to make an upfront payment to support capital expenditures at the airport.

The airports division of Bangalore-based firm GMR, which operates airports in Hyderabad, Delhi and Istanbul, also recently received a commitment of about $200m from the Macquarie-SBI Infrastructure Fund.

AECOM, Nossaman and KPMG will prepare a report on potential transportation public-private partnerships, including a freeway extension project that is facing a $2bn shortfall. Washington State has been estimated to have statewide infrastructure investment needs of up to $200bn over the next 20 years.

Atlantic Aviation, a subsidiary of New York Stock Exchange-listed Macquarie Infrastructure Company, has sold aviation services businesses at airports in Vermont and California for an undisclosed price.

The Spanish infrastructure group has also agreed to sell five wind farms to Gas Natural Fenosa. ACS expects to gain up to €160m from the sales.