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Input Tools

GARVEE/SIB Input Tool

Office of Innovative Program Delivery

The GARVEE/SIB Input Tool is used by state Departments of Transportation to provide data to the FHWA Center for Innovative Finance Support on GARVEE and SIB activity. The tool is password protected and only available to registered users with valid log-in credentials.

Research Reports

NCHRP Synthesis 395: Debt Finance Practices for Surface Transportation

Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, 2017

This report presents basic principles of debt issuance for public agencies. The primary focus is on the current practices of state agencies with responsibilities for surface transportation investment. The report may be useful in assisting in the decision on when and how to best use debt financing techniques to fund investments in transportation infrastructure. Anticipated audiences include those with financial oversight responsibilities for state DOTs, public authorities, and local governments. Others who may benefit include legislative oversight committees and the media. Information for this report was gathered through a literature review, a comprehensive survey of state DOTs, selected interviews, and a study of selected state policies, guidelines, and documentation. Among the debt financing tools studied in this project were GARVEEs, SIBs, TIFIA, PABs, and state and local finance mechanisms.

NCHRP Web-Only Document 102: Future Financing Options to Meet Highway and Transit Needs

Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, National Cooperative Highway Research Program, 2006

This report presents options for all levels of government to close the nation's highway and transit investment deficits on a sustainable basis. The study estimated the needs and revenues available at all levels of government from 2007 to 2017; examined existing and emerging revenue options; and demonstrated potential portfolios of funding options to close the revenue gap. The report also discusses necessary implementation steps to help secure the needed additional transportation investment.

GAO-05-172 Highway and Transit Investments

United States Government Accountability Office, 2005

In this 2005 report GAO identifies (1) the categories of benefits and costs that can be attributed to new highway and transit investments and the challenges in measuring them; (2) how state, local, and regional decision makers consider the benefits and costs of new highway and transit investments when comparing alternatives; (3) the extent to which investments meet their projected outcomes; and (4) options to improve the information available to decision makers. To address these objectives, GAO convened an expert panel, surveyed state departments of transportation and transit agencies, and conducted site visits to five metropolitan areas that had both a capacity-adding highway project and transit project completed within the last 10 years.

Performance Review of U.S. DOT Innovative Finance Initiatives

Cambridge Systematics, Inc. with Roskin Consulting, TransTech Managements, Inc., 2002

This 2002 report prepared by FHWA provides the first comprehensive evaluation of the innovative finance programs established in the 1990s with the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA), Executive Order 12893 of 1994, the TE- 045 program, the National Highway System Designation (NHS) Act of 1995 and, the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) of 1998. Chapter 2.0 describes the approaches used to measure the performance of these initiatives, which involve both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Chapter 3.0 presents the quantitative results of the performance review, in terms of the ability of the innovative finance tools to leverage transportation investment, accelerate projects, and yield economic benefits. Chapter 4.0 contains case studies of 11 projects that have used one or a combination of innovative finance tools to overcome a project funding challenge. Finally, Chapter 5.0 offers observations and conclusions on the effectiveness of U.S. DOT/FHWA-sponsored innovative finance initiatives, and suggests ways in which continued experimentation with new tools could afford additional benefits for the nation's surface transportation system.

TE-045 - Innovative Finance Test and Evaluation Program

United States Government Accountability Office

In response to Executive Order 12893 and in recognition of the need to explore new financing strategies, FHWA announced the Innovative Finance Program - Test and Evaluation Project (TE-045) in a Federal Register notice dated April 8, 1994. The program was established using statutory authority granted under Section 307(a) of Title 23 of the U.S. Code. Section 307(a) permits FHWA to engage in a wide range of research projects, including those related to highway finance. As part of this research effort, FHWA was able to waive selected policies and procedures so that specific transportation projects could be advanced through the use of non-traditional financing concepts.

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