Infrastructure

The repercussions of the train derailment in Ohio are a rallying cry for regulation.

The Local Infrastructure Hub is designed to help municipalities tap into $42 billion in federal grants

An expansion of the Northeast Corridor rail link and a proposed bullet train between Portland and Vancouver are two of the infrastructure developments in muni finance.

The state Senate on Tuesday gave a green light to the general appropriations act, which now goes into a constitutionally required 72-hour cooling off period before a Friday vote.

The House Appropriations Committee heard from tribal leaders about housing and transportation needs.

"What are our options? You either pick these banks or you don't. If you don't, business shuts down. We stop building infrastructure," said state Treasurer John Schroder, the bond commission chair.

"We know this cliff is coming," said state Sen. Ram Villivalam, head of the state Senate transportation committee. "What structural reforms are we looking at implementing? What innovation can we pursue?"

A default would halt federal payments and could delay key infrastructure projects

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg appeared before the House Appropriations Committee to warn of serious consequences of budget cuts.

The $3.3 billion Transportation Modernization act allows for P3s for roadway development, a first for the state.

The FAA reauthorization bill is a big-ticket transportation item facing Congress this year.

It's unrealistic to ask transit agencies, even financially stables ones, to solve larger social problems like homelessness or inequity, says an expert.

President Biden has vetoed the recent congressional resolution that would have overturned protections provided by EPA's clean water rule.

The federal funds may not go as far amid inflation, but they still cushion the construction industry struggling with economic challenges.

Eleven states from California to South Dakota will receive funding for 83 projects to improve water delivery systems, the Biden administration announced.

Part of the problem may be the lack of a muni finance tax expert in Treasury, a position that has been vacant since 2019.

Massive transit projects have funding momentum, and traditional road and bridge projects are advancing as well despite political opposition and some shaky funding.

The administration is touting the Justice40 Initiative and other programs to spur equity efforts.

Cities want to put federal dollars to work on their infrastructure, a process that can be daunting.