U.S. Department of Transportation Build America Bureau

U.S. Department of Transportation Build America Bureau
Name	Build America Bureau
Formed	2016
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Parent agency	U.S. Department of Transportation
Chief1 name	(see Organizational Structure and Leadership)
Website	(official site)

U.S. Department of Transportation Build America Bureau The Build America Bureau is an office within the United States Department of Transportation created to coordinate federal infrastructure finance programs and provide technical assistance for large transportation projects across the United States, engaging with state, local, and tribal partners. It integrates finance mechanisms and policy tools originating from statutes such as the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act and the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, while interacting with entities like the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

History and Establishment

The Bureau was established in 2016 by the United States Secretary of Transportation under the administration of Barack Obama to centralize delivery of TIFIA and RRIF credit assistance, building on precedents from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and reforms advocated by the Brookings Institution, the Bipartisan Policy Center, and the National Governors Association. Its founding aligned with policy debates in the 113th United States Congress and the 114th United States Congress about long-term infrastructure finance and reflected recommendations from the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and the Office of Management and Budget.

Mission and Responsibilities

The Bureau's mission encompasses mobilizing private capital, providing direct loans and loan guarantees, and delivering technical assistance to accelerate projects supported by entities such as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. It coordinates statutory authorities including the TIFIA program, the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, and the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing program while liaising with the Federal Transit Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of the Treasury to address project risk, environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act, and community impact as discussed in forums convened by the Urban Institute and the Economic Development Administration.

Programs and Financial Tools

The Bureau administers finance programs such as TIFIA and RRIF and manages credit instruments like direct loans, loan guarantees, and lines of credit used by capital projects led by entities like Amtrak, New Jersey Transit, Sound Transit, and the Chicago Transit Authority. It leverages federal credit assistance alongside private activity bonds issued under rules shaped by the Internal Revenue Code and in coordination with the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board and the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Bureau also provides technical assistance frameworks employed in project delivery models such as public–private partnerships used in projects like the Port Mann Bridge and the I-85 reconstruction in Atlanta.

Project Selection and Eligibility

Projects considered for assistance include major surface transportation, transit, intercity passenger rail, and port projects that meet statutory criteria established by Congress and guidance from the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, and the Federal Railroad Administration. Eligible applicants range from state departments of transportation like the California Department of Transportation and the Texas Department of Transportation to public authorities like the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and tribal authorities recognized under treaties adjudicated by the United States Court of Federal Claims. Selection factors reflect analyses similar to those used by the Congressional Budget Office, the Government Accountability Office, and the Office of Inspector General in assessing creditworthiness, public benefit, and risk mitigation.

Organizational Structure and Leadership

The Bureau operates within the United States Department of Transportation and works closely with modal administrations including the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, and the Federal Railroad Administration, with leadership appointed by the United States Secretary of Transportation and subject to oversight from Congressional committees such as the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Its staff includes specialists drawn from firms and institutions such as McKinsey & Company, KPMG, and university research centers like the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics, collaborating on credit analysis, legal structuring, and environmental review.

Notable Projects and Impact

The Bureau has supported high-profile projects including financing transactions related to LaGuardia Airport redevelopment initiatives, intercity rail upgrades involving Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, and multimodal programs in metropolitan regions like Los Angeles, New York City, and Seattle. Its interventions have been cited in case studies by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Urban Land Institute for mobilizing private capital, accelerating surface transportation delivery, and reducing lifecycle costs in projects examined alongside examples from Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Critics and supporters alike have debated its role in project selection alongside analyses from the Brookings Institution and the Heritage Foundation regarding fiscal risk, distributional equity, and long-term infrastructure investment strategies.

Category:United States Department of Transportation offices