News bites: More money, more projects

Your morning transportation speed-read:

State and local governments have spent more on road and transit projects since Congress passed the $105 billion surface transportation bill last year, according to a new report. 

A Slate magazine correspondent has posited that the recently announced merger between U.S. Airways and American Airlines marks "the end of cheap airfare."

Additionally, a financial rating agency has said the merger could threaten the credit ratings of U.S. airports.

Washington state has a new transportation secretary.

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