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Financing Techniques Guide. For Project Sponsors along US/Mexico Border. Webinar Outline. What is a project sponsor? TIFIA Credit Program Private Activity Bonds RRIF Credit Program BANOBRAS Credit Programs Other financing techniques Contacts for more information.
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Financing Techniques Guide For Project Sponsors along US/Mexico Border
Webinar Outline • What is a project sponsor? • TIFIA Credit Program • Private Activity Bonds • RRIF Credit Program • BANOBRAS Credit Programs • Other financing techniques • Contacts for more information
What is a project sponsor? • Any legal entity proposing a transportation project: • State DOTs • Cities, counties • Bridge authorities or districts • Border authorities or districts • Private sector firms
What is a project sponsor? • For a given project: • May be combination of legal entities • Will vary based on project size, complexity, geographic reach and available financing options
What is a project sponsor? • What entity is authorized/obligated to: • Enter into contracts? • Enforce contract provisions? • Borrow funds? • Repay borrowed funds?
TIFIA Credit Program • Summary of Program • TIFIA = Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act • Strategic goal of TIFIA is to: • Leverage limited federal resources • Stimulate private capital investment
TIFIA Credit Program • Federal credit assistance provided in several forms: • Direct loans • Loan guarantees • Standby lines of credit • Combinations of above • For projects costing an estimated $50 million or more; $15 million threshold for ITS projects
TIFIA Credit Program • TIFIA contribution limited to 33% of estimated project costs • Senior debt must be investment grade • Dedicated revenues available for repayment of credit assistance • Federal requirements are met
TIFIA Credit Program • Key objectives are to: • Accelerate projects • Encourage new revenue streams • Encourage private participation • Fill capital market gaps • Provide assistance as flexible, patient investor • Limit federal losses • Maximize use of budget authority
TIFIA Credit Program • Eligible Borrowers • State governments, agencies, authorities • Local governments, agencies, authorities • Bridge, border, transit authorities • Multi-state consortia • Private companies • Joint ventures • Bi-national entities
TIFIA Credit Program • Benefits of Program • Interest and principal payments may be deferred for up to five years • Repayment may extend up to 35 years • Interest rates equivalent to Treasury rates • No prepayment penalty • Accelerate projects; avoid cost increases
TIFIA Credit Program • Project Selection Criteria • Regional or national significance • Private participation • Favorable environmental impact • Project acceleration • Credit worthiness • Reduction in grant assistance • Use of budget authority
TIFIA Credit Program • Eligible Projects • Highways and bridges • Freight and passenger rail • Inter-city passenger bus facilities • Intermodal freight transfer facilities • Access to intermodal freight transfer facilities • Port terminal projects • International bridges and tunnels
TIFIA Credit Program • Application Process • Contact TIFIA Joint Program Office and/or Resource Center Finance Team • Submit Letter of Interest to USDOT • Assess comments provided by USDOT and revise project, if appropriate • Ensure project is included in state transportation plan • Ensure environmental requirements are met • Obtain preliminary rating letter
TIFIA Credit Program • Application Process, cont’d • Prepare and submit application to USDOT • Make presentation to TIFIA Joint Program Office • Ensure that ROD is obtained • Ensure that project is included in approved STIP • Ensure that investment grade opinion letter is obtained
TIFIA Credit Program • Application Process, cont’d • Negotiate credit agreement with USDOT • Pay credit processing fee equal to USDOT costs incurred in negotiating agreement • Pay for financial and legal advisors working on project sponsor’s behalf
TIFIA Credit Program • Contact Information • Mr. Mark Sullivan TIFIA Joint Program Office (HCF-50) U.S. Department of Transportation Room 4310 400 Seventh Street, S.W. Washington DC 20590 (202) 366-5785 http://tifia.fhwa.dot.gov
Private Activity Bonds • Summary of Program • PABs = Private Activity Bonds • $15 billion available • Allow private project sponsors to issue tax-exempt bonds at low, tax-exempt interest rates • PABs can be issued for highway, bridge, rail and freight transfer facilities
Private Activity Bonds • Eligible Borrowers • Private project sponsors developing highway, bridge, rail or freight transfer facilities • Need to work closely with public sector “conduit issuer” selling bonds • Need to ensure project is included in STIP and is Title 23 eligible
Private Activity Bonds • Qualified Projects • Surface transportation projects receiving assistance under Title 23 • Any project for an international bridge or tunnel which an international entity manages • Any facility for transfer of freight from truck to rail or rail to truck, including temporary storage facilities
Private Activity Bonds • Qualified Projects, cont’d • Any TIFIA-assisted public transportation, intercity bus or rail facilities and vehicles • This includes vehicles and facilities owned by Amtrak • This also includes public freight rail facilities, private freight rail facilities, and intermodal freight transfer facilities
Private Activity Bonds • Application Process • Project sponsors requesting PAB authority should provide following data elements: • Amount of requested allocation • Proposed date of bond issuance • Date of bond issuer resolution • Draft bond counsel opinion letter
Private Activity Bonds • Application process, cont’d • Data elements: • Financing/development team information • Borrower information • Project description • Project schedule • Financial structure • Title 23/49 funding received
Private Activity Bonds • Application process, cont’d • Data elements: • Project readiness • Signatures • Declarations • Addresses
Private Activity Bonds • Contact Information • Mr. Jack Bennett U.S. Department of Transportation Office of the Asst. Secy. for Transportation Policy P-20, Room 10305 E 400 7th Street S. W. Washington DC 20590 (202) 366-6222
RRIF Credit Program • Summary of Program • RRIF = Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing program • Administrator of FRA is authorized to provide up to $35 billion in loans and loan guarantees
RRIF Credit Program • Eligible Borrowers • Railroads • State and local governments • Government-sponsored authorities and corporations • Joint ventures including at least one railroad • Freight shippers
RRIF Credit Program • Benefits of Program • Loans for up to 100% of eligible project costs • Repayment periods up to 25 years • Interest rates equivalent to Treasury rates • Project acceleration • Avoidance of future ROW and construction cost increases
RRIF Credit Program • Evaluation Criteria • Eligible borrower and project • Creditworthiness of project • Extent to which project will enhance safety • Significance of project on local, regional, national level • Improvement to the environment • Improvement in service or capacity in railroad transportation system
RRIF Credit Program • Eligible Projects • RRIF credit may be used to: • Acquire, improve, or rehabilitate intermodal or rail equipment or facilities • Refinance outstanding debt incurred for the above purposes • Develop or establish new intermodal or railroad facilities
RRIF Credit Program • Application Process • Contact FRA Office of Freight Programs • Compile preliminary application information: a. Description of project, including amount of loan or loan guarantee requested; b. Description of benefits and/or savings to be generated by project; c. Description of collateral; d. Financial statements; and
RRIF Credit Program • Application Process, cont’d e. Discussion whether project: Will enhance safety and the environment Will promote economic development and US competitiveness Will preserve rail or enhance intermodal service Is included in the state’s transportation plan
RRIF Credit Program • Application Process, cont’d • Assess FRA comments/feedback • Submit Loan Application to FRA • Pay evaluation fee • Pay Credit Risk Premium
RRIF Credit Program • Contact Information • Federal Railroad Administration Office of Freight Programs (RDV-12) 400 7th Street SW Washington DC 20590 (202) 493-6381
BANOBRAS Credit Programs • Summary of Program • BANOBRAS = Banco Nacional de Obras yServicios Publicos (National Bank for Public Works and Services) • Provides financial assistance to state and municipal administrations in Mexico
BANOBRAS Credit Programs • Eligible Projects, examples • Construction and improvement of highways, bypasses and bridges • Construction of passenger and cargo terminals • Intersection improvements • Lighting and traffic signals • Planning and paving of local streets
BANOBRAS Credit Programs • Available Financial Assistance • Direct loans to concessionaires • Other financial support to concessionaires, such as contingent and revolving credit • Long-term refinancing • Partial guarantees for a public sale or offering • Support for federal New Concession Plan for Toll Highways
BANOBRAS Credit Programs • Supports New Concession Plan by providing funds to Investment Fund for Infrastructure (FINFRA) • In turn, FINFRA: • Grants public funds to reduce equity investment and/or bank loans needed by concessionaire to finance construction • Provides guarantees supporting concessionaire debt
BANOBRAS Credit Programs • Contact Information Direccion de Promocion y Proyectos BANOBRAS, S.N.C. Av. Javier Barros Sierra 515 Pisos 5, 6 y 8 Colonia Lomas de Santa Fe CP 01219 Tel. 5270-1200
Other Financing Techniques • State Infrastructure Bank (SIB) Lending • All states are now allowed to establish SIBs • States can use up to 10% of FHWA and FTA funding to capitalize SIBs • States must provide matching state funds • SIBs can provide direct loans and credit enhancement to public entities or private firms
Other Financing Techniques • GARVEE Bonding • GARVEE = Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicles • All states are now allowed to issue GARVEEs • GARVEEs are secured by future federal funds for federal-aid eligible projects • Expand state’s borrowing capacity • Accelerate construction of critical projects
Other Financing Techniques • Tolling Initiatives • Interstate Construction Toll Pilot Program • Express Lanes Demonstration Program • HOV to HOT Lane Conversion Program • Interstate System Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Toll Pilot Program • One-stop FHWA application procedure
Other Financing Techniques • Other Funding from Federal Railroad Administration • Congressional appropriations for specific high-priority rail projects • Congressional appropriations for research and development projects for passenger and freight rail
Contacts for more information • Ms. Thay Bishop, Team Leader • USDOT FHWA Resource Center Innovative Finance Team 61 Forsyth Street SW, Suite 17T26 Atlanta GA 30303 (404) 562-3695 thay.bishop@fhwa.dot.gov