Infrastructure Insights

Federal Implementation Spotlight

Build America Bureau – U.S. Department of Transportation

Our thought bubble: Understanding which offices and programs will oversee the implementation of the infrastructure bill puts stakeholders in a better position to take advantage of opportunities that will arise.

The Build America Bureau (the “Bureau”) is responsible for driving transportation infrastructure development projects in the United States.  The Bureau streamlines credit opportunities and grants and provides access to the credit and grant programs with more speed and transparency, while also providing technical assistance and encouraging innovative best practices in project planning, financing, delivery, and monitoring.  To achieve this vision, the Bureau draws upon the full resources of the U.S. Department of Transportation to best utilize the expertise of all the modes within the Department while promoting a culture of innovation and customer service.

There are three core components of the new Bureau:

  • An Outreach and Project Development team, that will continue the Bureau work to educate project sponsors about how they can best combine DOT credit, funding programs, and innovative project delivery approaches such as public-private partnerships (P3), and then offer project-level technical assistance to get them ready to pursue it.
  • A Credit Programs team that encompasses the TIFIA, RRIF, and PABs programs. See the following links for more information about each of the credit program components:
    – TIFIA (Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act)
    – RRIF (Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing
    – PABs (Private Activity Bonds)
  • The Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) Grant Program team, which will administer the application process for INFRA grants. See Infrastructure For Rebuilding America for more information about this program.
    • The Georgia Ports Authority was recently awarded $46,868,000 through the INFRA Grant Program to build a new inland container port along the I-85/I-985 corridor in an unincorporated area of Gainesville, which will be linked with the Port of Savannah by direct, 324-mile intermodal freight rail service.
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