Financing Freight Improvements

Provides funding for resurfacing, restoration, rehabilitation, and reconstruction (4R) of Interstate facilities.

$25.2 billion

Activities improve freight mobility.

Any size depending on funds available to state DOT; may require combination with other funding sources for very large projects.

State DOTs

http://www.transportation.org/?siteid=37&pageid=332

Provides funding on designated highway intermodal connectors to intermodal facilities also NHS.

$30.5 billion

Funds can be applied for construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, and rehabilitation on a roadway connecting the NHS with a truck-rail transfer facility or an airport.

Any size; may require combination with other funding sources for very large projects.

State DOTs

http://www.transportation.org/?siteid=37&pageid=332

Funds projects on any Federal aid highway, bridge projects on any public road, transit capital projects, and other state or local projects. Can be used for improvements to accommodate rail freight.

$32.6 billion

Rail freight improvements include:

• Lengthening or increasing vertical clearance of bridges;
• Adjusting drainage facilities;
• Lightning;
• Signage;
• Minor adjustments to highway alignment.

Any size; may require combination with other funding sources for very large projects.

State DOTs/MPOs

http://www.transportation.org/?siteid=37&pageid=332

http://www.ampo.org/directory/index.php

Provides funding to border states for projects that improve the safe movement of motor vehicles and cargo at or across the U.S. border with Canada and Mexico.

$710 million

Projects that facilitate/expedite cross border crossing, such as:

• Operational improvements related to electronic data interchange and use of telecommunications
• Safety enforcement facilities related to international trade.

Small projects; requires combination with other funding sources for very large projects.

State DOTs

http://www.transportation.org/?siteid=37&pageid=332

Funds transportation projects in nonattainment and maintenance areas that improve air quality. Can be used for start up costs associated with operations (for up to three years).

$8.6 billion

Freight-related eligible projects include:

• Advanced truck stop electrification systems;
• Construction of Intermodal freight facilities that result in air quality improvements;
• On-road and nonroad diesel engine retrofits;
• Cost-effective congestion mitigation activities.

Any size.

State DOTs/MPOs

http://www.transportation.org/?siteid=37&pageid=332

http://www.ampo.org/directory/index.php

Provides funding for replacement, rehabilitation, and systematic preventive maintenance of bridges.

$21.6 billion

Bridge rehabilitation and replacement with freight-related components or serving high truck volumes. In some cases bridge replacements or rehabilitation can benefit freight by increasing height of ships that can pass under a bridge.

Any size; may require combination with other funding sources for very large projects.

State DOTs

http://www.transportation.org/?siteid=37&pageid=332

Provides funding to eliminate rail-highway crossing hazards.

$880 million

Eligible uses include:

• Separation or protection of at-grade crossings;
• Reconstruction of at-grade crossings;
• Highway relocation to eliminate crossing;
• Rail relocation to eliminate crossing (where most cost-effective).

Small projects; requires combination with other funding sources for very large projects.

State DOTs/MPOs

http://www.transportation.org/?siteid=37&pageid=332

http://www.ampo.org/directory/index.php

New funding program; provides funds for projects addressing the shortage of long-term parking for commercial vehicles on the NHS.

$25 million

Eligible projects include:

• Construction of commercial vehicle parking facilities adjacent to truck stops and travel plazas;
• Constructing turnouts for commercial vehicles;
• Improving geometric design of interchanges to improve truck access to parking facilities;
• Advanced truck electrification systems.

Small project; requires combination with other funding sources for very large projects.

U.S. DOT/FHWA

New program that provides grants for local rail line relocation and improvement projects. Projects should improve vehicle traffic flow, quality of life, and economic development.

$1.4 billion authorized, subject to appropriations

Relocation of a rail line, such that rail crossing impacts are mitigated.

Any size, although legislation requires that at least half of the funding is used for projects that are $20 million or less.

U.S. DOT/FHWA

Funds for capital improvements on "fixed guideway" systems that have been operating for at least seven years.

$6.07 billion

Rehabilitation of tracks, structures, signals and communications, power equipment and substations, and preventive maintenance. Rail freight benefits from capital improvements on shared commuter rail lines.

Any size; may require combination with other funding sources for very large projects.

Transit Agencies

http://www.fta.dot.gov/35_ENG_HTML.htm

Funding for operations and maintenance of federally authorized channels for commercial navigation

Not applicable

Port O&M costs (e.g., dredging)

Small projects; requires combination with other funding sources for very large projects.

USACE

http://www.usace.army.mil/

Grants for projects sites that promote job creation and/or retention in economically distressed industrial. Eligible projects should be located within an EDA-designated redevelopment area or economic development center.

Not applicable

Industrial access roads, port development and expansion, and railroad sidings.

Small projects; requires combination with other funding sources for very large projects.

U.S. Department of Commerce – EDA

http://www.eda.gov

Grants and loans to fund construction, enlargement, extension or improvement of community facilities in rural areas (population less than 20,000).

Not applicable

Roads, transportation infrastructure for industrial parks, and airports.

Small projects; requires combination with other funding sources for very large projects.

USDA– Rural Development

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/cf/cp.htm

Provides grants and loans for brownfield site cleanup.

Not applicable

Brownfield sites could be redeveloped for commercial, residential, and/or industrial uses, including intermodal facilities (e.g., rail-truck transfer facilities).

Small projects; requires combination with other funding sources for very large projects.

USEPA

http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/

Provides loans and credit assistance for major transportation investments of national or regional significance, including public intermodal freight facilities. SAFETEA-LU expanded TIFIA eligibility to private rail projects.

Private sponsors are eligible.

SAFETEA-LU authorizes $122 million per year to pay the subsidy costs of supporting federal credit under TIFIA. This level of funding can support loans with a total value of more than $2 billion annually.

Any project eligible for federal funding under Title 23 and Chapter 53 of Title 49.

International bridge or tunnel

Intercity passenger bus and rail facilities and vehicles (including Amtrak and magnetic levitation systems)

Freight-specific projects eligible for TIFIA include:

• Public or private rail facilities providing benefits to highway users;
• Intermodal freight transfer facilities;
• Access to freight facilities and service improvements, including ITS;
• Surface transportation infrastructure modifications to facilitate intermodal interchange, transfer, and access into and out of ports.

$50 million minimum, no specific maximum, but credit assistance under TIFIA can only support 33% of eligible project costs.

U.S. DOT

http://tifia.fhwa.dot.gov

SAFETEA-LU authorizes all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories to establish infrastructure revolving funds that can be capitalized with federal transportation funds authorized through FY 2009. Current legislation allows for the creation of rail accounts.

Private sponsors are eligible.

Highway Account – up to 10% of NHS, STP, Bridge, and Equity Bonus programs, at the discretion of the state DOT.

Rail Account – funds made available for capital projects under Subtitle V (Rail Programs) of Title 49.

Any project eligible for federal funding under Title 23 and Section 5302 of Title 49.

Any size; depends on state capitalization. Generally small projects are funded.

State DOT (and/or SIB Board established).

http://www.transportation.org/?siteid=37&pageid=332

Loans and credit assistance to both public and private sponsors of rail and intermodal projects.

Private sponsors are eligible.

$35 billion; $7 billion is directed to short line and regional railroads.

Acquisition, development, improvement, or rehabilitation of intermodal or rail equipment and facilities.

Any size; generally small projects.

U.S. DOT/FRA

http://www.fra.dot.gov

Title XI Section 1143 of SAFETEA-LU amends Section 142(a) of the IRS code to allow the issuance of tax-exempt private activity bonds for highway and freight transfer facilities.

Private sponsors are eligible.

Up to $15 billion.

Surface transportation projects (including highways, toll roads and truck only lanes), international bridges and tunnels receiving federal assistance under Title 23.

Rail-truck transfer facilities receiving federal assistance under Title 23 or 49.

Any size; potential for large infrastructure projects.

U.S. DOT

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ppp/tools_pabs.htm

Financing instrument that allows state to issue debt backed by future federal-aid highway revenues. Eligibility for freight projects is constrained by the underlying federal-aid programs that will be used for debt service.

63-20 Corporation may be eligible.

Not applicable

All Title 23 eligible projects.

Intermodal facilities that are eligible for federal assistance under Title 23 or 49; NHS-eligible intermodal connectors.

Typically large projects or groups of projects ($10 million or larger).

State DOT/Local Government must be willing to dedicate future revenue.

http://www.transportation.org/?siteid=37&pageid=332