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Tools & Programs:
Federal Credit Assistance Tools

USDOT has developed a number of financial tools to help project sponsors access credit to expedite the implementation of needed transportation improvements. Federal credit assistance can take one of two forms: loans, where project sponsors borrow Federal highway funds directly from a State DOT or the Federal government; and credit enhancements, where a State DOT or the Federal government makes Federal funds available on a contingent (or standby) basis. Credit enhancement helps reduce risk to investors and thus allow project sponsors to borrow at lower interest rates. Loans can provide the capital necessary to proceed with a project, reduce the amount of capital borrowed from other sources and may also serve a credit enhancement function by reducing the risk borne by other investors.

Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA)
The TIFIA Credit Program provides Federal credit assistance in the form of direct loans, loan guarantees, and standby lines of credit to finance surface transportation projects of national and regional significance. A TIFIA project must pledge repayment in whole or in part with dedicated revenue sources such as tolls, user fees, special assessments (taxes), or other non-Federal sources. The TIFIA Credit Program is a separate part of the IPD Office and is accessed through its own website.

TIFIA Credit Program: An Introduction FACT SHEET

The Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act FACT SHEET

State Infrastructure Banks (SIBs)
SIBs are state-run revolving funds that make loans, provide credit enhancements, and other forms of non-grant assistance to surface transportation projects. The SIB Program allows states to capitalize revolving loan funds with regularly apportioned Federal-aid (Title 23) highway funds. Separate transit and rail accounts may also be capitalized with Title 49 Federal-aid funds.

State Infrastructure Banks (SIBs) FACT SHEET

Section 129 Loans
Section 129 (a)(7) of Title 23 commonly referred to as Section 129 loans allow states to lend apportioned Federal-aid highway funds to toll and non-toll projects generating dedicated revenue streams. Revenue sources can include, but not be limited to, tolls, excise taxes, sales taxes, real property taxes, incremental property taxes, and motor vehicle taxes.