Infrastructure

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said there are about 3,200 announced projects that are awaiting formal grant funding agreements, 950 of which were announced right before President Donald Trump took office.

As Chicago transit agencies and Illinois lawmakers near a deadline to fix a transit budget shortfall of about $770 million, some are calling for a services tax.

The Maine Turnpike Authority is navigating a rocky road back to the market. 

Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority had to rethink the final leg of a 60.2-mile light rail line when the contractor's final bid came in 50% higher than its estimated project costs.

California's High Speed Rail Authority has until June 2026 to figure out how to close a $7 billion budget hole, said the LAO's principal fiscal and policy analyst at a budget hearing.

These institutions will see increased usage if some threats to the market come to fruition.

As muni advocates fight for the preservation of tax exemption, foreign investors are using the ASCE Infrastructure Report Card as evidence that increased privatization of assets is needed to improve the grades.

Only Georgia has a higher state-level infrastructure grade from the ASCE than the the C the U.S. received this week. More in the Southeast are C-minus or lower.

The effects of infrastructure spending and the need for more are coming into focus as the municipal bond community is dealing with a Congressional threat to eliminate the tax-exempt status of munis. 

The American Society of Civil Engineers released its infrastructure report card, which shows that billions spent on infrastructure is having overall positive effects on the condition of the nation's bridges, highways, and ports.