Infrastructure

Transportation advocates remain opposed to the legislation and the Biden Administration has not taken a position.

Emily Brock, director of the federal liaison center at the Government Finance Officers Association, takes time out to talk with Chip Barnett at The Bond Buyer’s National Outlook Conference about infrastructure spending. She also looks at the possibility of Congress approving the return of tax-exempt advance refundings and the SEC and MSRB’s focus on issuers ESG disclosures. (17 minutes)

The Eastern Transportation Coalition's report highlights concerns about privacy, trucking and rural drivers.

Oklahoma is not alone in struggling to fund repairs for aging dams, a $20 billion problem nationwide according to a 2019 study.

The Turnpike Authority is gearing up bond financing for a $5 billion capital plan, and will pick a team of underwriters and others later this year.

A controversial tax on fuel exported to other states from Washington refineries was cut by the plan's author after neighboring governors cried foul.

A federal memo on IIJA dollars outlines Biden administration priorities but doesn’t tie states’ hands when it comes to funding, the transportation secretary said.

The president touted the benefits of last year's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and American Rescue Plan Act during his first State of the Union address.

Recent federal laws have provided municipalities with record levels of funding, but may only have a marginal increase in the number of issuances.

“I want to break ground next year,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said.

The U.S. and European Commission moved Saturday to disconnect Russia from a global financial system.

February volume was $26.481 billion in 594 deals versus $37.052 billion in 981 issues a year earlier, bringing total volume for the first two months of the year to $51.426 billion, or 20% less than 2021.

A judge has ordered the state to reconsider its rejection of a bid for a $9 billion P3 for new toll lanes, a move that could delay Gov. Larry Hogan’s priority project.

The proposal would offset all gas tax losses to the Highway Trust Fund but would still hasten its insolvency.

Much of the new infrastructure funding can't flow to states until a full FY22 bill is enacted.

High material costs and labor shortages are expected to persist through 2022 just as states and localities are planning how to spend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act money.

Tax-exempt advance refundings are unlikely to be included in a FY22 budget, but two bills that would restore the popular tool remain alive.

“It’s important for the economy and the entirety of the American Rescue Plan that we see each county doing what it can for workers," Biden Senior Advisor Gene Sperling told the National Association of Counties.

Texas Sen. John Cornyn urged counties to continue to lobby for a bill that would allow ARPA funds to be used for transportation infrastructure and disaster relief.

The feds said they expect states to partner with private entities to develop and operate the electric vehicle charging networks.