# Presentation: 676494

## Pre-Rulemaking Public Meetings	

***Marriott Financial Center***
***New York***
***April 25, 2006***

***Pre-Rulemaking Public Meetings******	***

## 2006 TIFIA Rulemaking

**Revisions & corrections to existing rule**
**Changes required by SAFETEA-LU**
**Changes specified in new statute**
**Elaboration of new statutory provisions**

## SAFETEA-LU Changes to TIFIA

**Eligibility broadened: **
**Private freight rail facility providing public benefits**
**Port improvements necessary for intermodal access**
**Project size thresholds lowered:**
**$50 MM  (*****old law*****:  $100 MM)**
**1/3 of state's F-A apportionment  (*****old law*****:  1/2)**
**ITS projects:  $15 MM  (*****old law*****:  $30 MM)**
**DOT permitted to collect and spend fees, subject to appropriation**

## SAFETEA-LU Changes to TIFIA

**“****Work-out” authority:  10-year limit removed**
**Line of credit:**
**DSR need not be tapped before TIFIA draw**
**20 percent annual draw restriction removed**
**Authorized program size:**
**$122 million annual authorization to fund cost of credit assistance**
**Annual authorized limit on credit assistance removed**

## TIFIA Funding:  Past and Future

- $0.0

- $0.5

- $1.0

- $1.5

- $2.0

- $2.5

- $3.0

- (Billions)

- 1999

- 2000

- 2001

- 2002

- 2003

- SAFETEA-LU

- (per year)

- Credit Amount

- Budget Authority

***TIFIA Funding:  Past and Future***

**Annual Authorizations: 2005 - 2009**
**Maximum Credit Amount:                     No limit                    **
**Maximum Budgetary Cost:            $122 Million**

- $ 1.6

- $ 1.8

- $ 2.2

- $ 2.4

- $ 2.6

- No Limit

## New TIFIA Refinancing Authority

**	****SAFETEA-LU authorizes TIFIA secured loans: *****“to refinance long-term project obligations or Federal credit instruments if such refinancing provides additional funding capacity for the completion, enhancement, or expansion of any project that (i) is selected under section 602 or (ii) otherwise meets the requirements of section 602.”****** ***
**	****["section 602" specifies TIFIA eligibility and project selection criteria]**

## TIFIA Refinancing Issues

**What are “long term obligations”?**
**What is the meaning of “provides additional funding capacity”?**
**What limits, if any, should there be on using TIFIA to refinance a prior TIFIA loan?**

## TIFIA Refinancing Issues

**Does the refinancing authority encompass *****acquisition***** financing (*****e.g*****., Chicago Skyway)?**
**If TIFIA’s new refinancing authority does not contemplate acquisition financing, does it permit refinancing of interim acquisition financing?**
**How should new SAFETEA-LU refinancing authority be harmonized with prior TEA-21 TIFIA authority to refinance construction financing?**

## TIFIA Refinancing Issues

**Do the basic TIFIA project requirements carry over to refinancing transactions?**
**	****1.  *****size threshold***
**	****	****total refinancing transaction > $50 MM?**
**	****	****new construction > $50 MM?**
**	****2*****.  participation limit***
**	****	****TIFIA participation < 33% total transaction?**
**	****	****TIFIA participation < 33% new construction?**
** **

## TIFIA Refinancing Issues

**If project readiness requirements (*****e.g*****. NEPA complete, conforming planning process) apply to new construction, must those requirements be met before the refinancing transaction closes?**
**Must there be a nexus between the refinancing***** *****and the new construction?**

***TIFIA Refinancing Issues***

## Private Activity Bonds

**SAFETEA-LU authorizes $15 billion in “exempt facility bonds”**
**Not subject to state volume caps**
**Secretary of Transportation has broad discretion.**

## Private Activity Bonds

**Eligible projects:  **
**surface transportation project which receives Federal assistance under title 23,**
**international bridge or tunnel which receives Federal assistance under title 23,**
**Intermodal truck-rail freight transfer facility which receives Federal assistance under either title 23 or title 49. **

## Private Activity Bonds

**Private activity bond authorization is *****not***** part of TIFIA program**
**DOT expects that project sponsors may pair PABs and TIFIA in project plans of finance**
**Implications for the TIFIA rule??**