The Water Resources Development Act of 2024 has recently passed a key Senate committee, showcasing a significant shift towards advancing a pilot public-private partnership program initially proposed by the Army Corps of Engineers a decade ago. This latest bill marks a crucial moment in the realm of water project delivery methods, signaling a growing interest
Politics
A recent tax measure aimed at providing financial support for the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) district has sparked controversy and opposition among local stakeholders. Senate Bill 1031, introduced by Sen. Scott Wiener and Sen. Aisha Wahab, proposes a ballot measure to generate funds for the struggling BART system, which has been facing
Public opinion on the viability of mileage fees as a replacement for gas taxes has seen a significant shift in recent years. According to the latest survey from the Mineta Transportation Institute, support for a per-mile user fee has grown from 22% in 2010 to 39% in 2024. The survey also found that when these
The recent announcement by Comptroller Brad Lander regarding the New York City Employees’ Retirement System’s investment of up to $60 million in affordable housing units marks a significant milestone in the city’s efforts to address the housing crisis. With nearly 35,000 units at stake, the partnership aims to not only preserve these units, 80% of
The U.S. public-private partnership activity exhibited a weakness in the past year, yet the long-term trend of an increasing number of P3s remained robust. The future outlook seems promising with a healthy project pipeline and infrastructure funds eagerly looking to invest. The southeast region maintained its lead in this space, with significant projects lined up
After much deliberation and negotiation, Virginia’s two-year, $188 billion budget has finally been officially approved. This resolution was made possible with the help of compromise and a stronger than expected tax collection season. Governor Glenn Youngkin emphasized the role of the labor market and business investments in driving record revenues for the Commonwealth. The approval
Virginia Beach recently made a move to utilize the municipal bond market for funding a surf park development which has garnered attention due to its backing by multi-Grammy award winning artist Pharrell Williams. The Virginia Beach Development Authority announced the pricing of approximately $189 million in debt to support the construction of Atlantic Park. This
The recent bipartisan passage of the $105 billion Federal Aviation Administration bill includes a significant increase in funding for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). This program, which supports new airport infrastructure projects such as runways, will see a 20% increase in funding, bringing it to $4 billion annually or $20 billion over the next five
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is now grappling with the issue of how much the federal government should contribute to the reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, originally financed by bonds. Following the collapse of the bridge due to a collision with a container vessel, President Biden expressed his intention for the
The Colorado Legislature recently wrapped up its session after achieving significant milestones in various areas. The session saw the passing of a fiscal 2025 budget, changes in school funding, a property tax cut, and measures targeted at advancing multi-billion-dollar passenger rail projects and a bond-financed purchase of a historic hotel. Senate President Steve Fenberg described