Transportation
In 2009, Senator Wyden helped revolutionize the private bond market used to finance public infrastructure projects when a version of his Build America Bonds became law as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The taxable municipal bonds were a significant departure from traditional tax exempt bonds and their wild success -- $181 billion were issued in 2010 -- demonstrated how tax credit bonds could be used to leverage private sector investment at considerable savings for state and local governments. ARRA only authorized Build Americans Bonds for one year, but Wyden has since built on the program’s success, introducing the bipartisan “Transportation and Regional Infrastructure Project” (TRIPS) bonds which would make it possible for state infrastructure banks to issue up to $50 billion in tax credit bonds to finance transportation projects.
Latest
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Surface Transportation Bill Includes Senate-Passed County Payments Extension
This morning, conferees on the House-Senate surface transportation bill announced that the final negotiated legislation includes the one-year $346 million extension of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act – commonly known as the co...…Read More
Posted on 06/28/12 | -
Merkley, Wyden Announce $85 Million for Portland to Milwaukie Light Rail Line
PORTLAND, OR - Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that Trimet has been awarded $85 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to help complete the Portland to Milwaukie light rail line. “The Portland to Milwaukie line will expand Po...…Read More
Posted on 05/17/12 -
Wyden Statement on the Increase of Direct Flights from Portland to Washington, D.C.
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement after the Department of Transportation announced that Portland International Airport (PDX) will receive one new round trip direct flight to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Expanded air travel...…Read More
Posted on 05/14/12 -
Wyden Leads Letter to Senate Conferees Calling for County Payments and PILT to be Adopted in Surface Transportation Conference
Local and county governments are currently finalizing their budgets for the coming year. Without reauthorization of county payments legislation included in the Senate version of the surface transportation bill now being considered by members from both houses in the conferen...…Read More
Posted on 05/10/12 -
Senator Ron Wyden at Bend Municipal Airport on Tuesday to Talk About the Benefits to Oregon of the Federal Aviation Administration Bill
WHO: Senator Ron Wyden Bend City Councilor Mark Capell J...…Read More
Posted on 04/27/12 -
Wyden at Finance Markup Talks TRIPs Bonding Program
Posted on 02/07/12 -
Passage of FAA Bill Will Improve Commercial Air Service, Protect Crater Lake and Increase UAV Testing Sites
With the Senate passage of the long-held up Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill today, Oregon and its western neighbors are poised to see many economic and environmental benefits. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) announced that among the many pro...…Read More
Posted on 02/06/12