...Given the persistence of higher fuel prices, the slide of the U.S. dollar and a sluggish U.S. economy, there have been varying impacts on transit systems, seaports, airports and toll roads, with the latter two asset classes facing a more difficult operating environment than the former; therefore, the focu s of this report is on airports and toll roads. At this point in time, the outlook for transit systems and ports remains stable. However, Fitch Ratings is in the process of an alyzing sector and asset-specific trends for transit systems and seaports, and will be prov iding a more detailed analysis in October. In the interim, a brief overview follows. For U.S. transit systems, the conditions desc ribed above have led to an increase in ridership and political support for the expa nsion of transit services. However, the increase in ridership is being offset by higher propulsion costs, slower growth or declines in sales and other tax revenue an d significant cost increases...
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