Title 23 — HighwaysRelease 119-73
§602 Determination of eligibility and project selection
Title 23 › Chapter CHAPTER 6— - INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE › § 602
Summary
Lets projects get low-cost federal credit if they meet several rules. The project sponsor must send a letter of interest before a formal application. The project must meet credit standards, including having rate and coverage protections and investment-grade ratings: normally at least 2 rating agencies must rate any senior debt and the federal credit instrument as investment grade. If the total of senior debt plus the federal credit instrument is under $150,000,000, one rating for each is enough. If the federal credit instrument itself is senior debt, it still needs 2 ratings unless the total senior debt plus the federal instrument is under $150,000,000. The project must meet the planning and programming rules in sections 134 and 135 when the federal credit agreement is made. Eligible applicants include states, local governments, public authorities, public-private partnerships, or other authorized entities. The Secretary must accept the project application. Projects must usually have expected costs of at least $50,000,000 or 33⅓ percent of the State’s most recent Federal highway apportionment, whichever is less. Lower minimums apply for certain projects: $15,000,000 for intelligent transportation systems, $10,000,000 for some specific project types and for rural projects (rural projects are $10,000,000 minimum but not more than $100,000,000), and $10,000,000 for many local-government projects. The federal credit must be repaid in whole or part from tolls, user fees, payments under a public-private deal, or other dedicated revenues. Private entities must have public sponsorship as required. A public applicant may apply even if the private obligor will be chosen later. The Secretary must find the loan will attract public/private investment, let the project start earlier or cut life-cycle costs, and reduce federal grant needs. The applicant must show work can start contracting within 90 days after the federal credit is obligated, except a State infrastructure bank using a rural projects loan has 2 years to make a loan before the bank can draw the funds; the Secretary may extend or withdraw that loan after 2 years. Public-private deals must include a value-for-money analysis by the public partner. The Secretary runs a rolling application process and can make master credit agreements for related projects. If subsidy funds are lacking for a fiscal year, a sponsor can enter a master agreement and wait for funds later. Applicants must give a preliminary rating opinion from at least 1 rating agency showing the project’s senior debt could become investment grade and giving a preliminary view on the federal credit. Projects using program funds must follow Title VI, NEPA, and the Uniform Relocation Act. No funds can be committed until the project has a NEPA clearance (categorical exclusion, finding of no significant impact, or record of decision). The Secretary will require proper payment and performance security for design and construction. If state or local law already requires such security, the Secretary may accept it; if not, a federal or equivalent state/local security is required. The Secretary should give an estimated decision timeline and, as much as possible, try to finish processing within 150 days after the letter of interest. Within 30 days of getting an application the Secretary must say if it is complete or needs more information, and within 60 days after that notice must say whether the application is approved or denied. A federal credit instrument may finance up to 100 percent of the development-phase costs described in section 601(a)(2)(A).
Full Legal Text
Title 23, §602
Highways — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)(1)A project shall be eligible to receive credit assistance under the TIFIA program if—
(A)the entity proposing to carry out the project submits a letter of interest prior to submission of a formal application for the project; and
(B)the project meets the criteria described in this subsection.
(2)(A)To be eligible for assistance under the TIFIA program, a project shall satisfy applicable creditworthiness standards, which, at a minimum, shall include—
(i)a rate covenant, if applicable;
(ii)adequate coverage requirements to ensure repayment;
(iii)an investment grade rating from at least 2 rating agencies on debt senior to the Federal credit instrument; and
(iv)an investment-grade rating from at least 2 rating agencies on the Federal credit instrument, subject to the condition that, with respect to clause (iii), if the total amount of the senior debt and the Federal credit instrument is less than $150,000,000, 1 rating agency opinion for each of the senior debt and Federal credit instrument shall be sufficient.
(B)Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), in a case in which the Federal credit instrument is senior debt, the Federal credit instrument shall be required to receive an investment grade rating from at least 2 rating agencies, unless the total amount of other senior debt and the Federal credit instrument is less than $150,000,000, in which case 1 rating agency opinion shall be sufficient.
(3)A project shall satisfy the applicable planning and programming requirements of section 134 and 135 at such time as an agreement to make available a Federal credit instrument is entered into under the TIFIA program.
(4)A State, local government, public authority, public-private partnership, or any other legal entity undertaking the project and authorized by the Secretary shall submit a project application that is acceptable to the Secretary.
(5)(A)Except as provided in subparagraph (B), a project under the TIFIA program shall have eligible project costs that are reasonably anticipated to equal or exceed the lesser of—
(i)$50,000,000; and
(ii)33⅓ percent of the amount of Federal highway funds apportioned for the most recently completed fiscal year to the State in which the project is located.
(B)(i)In the case of a project principally involving the installation of an intelligent transportation system, eligible project costs shall be reasonably anticipated to equal or exceed $15,000,000.
(ii)In the case of a project described in section 601(a)(12)(E), eligible project costs shall be reasonably anticipated to equal or exceed $10,000,000.
(iii)In the case of a rural infrastructure project or a project capitalizing a rural projects fund, eligible project costs shall be reasonably anticipated to equal or exceed $10,000,000, but not to exceed $100,000,000.
(iv)Eligible project costs shall be reasonably anticipated to equal or exceed $10,000,000 in the case of a project or program of projects—
(I)in which the applicant is a local government, public authority, or instrumentality of local government;
(II)located on a facility owned by a local government; or
(III)for which the Secretary determines that a local government is substantially involved in the development of the project.
(6)The applicable Federal credit instrument shall be repayable, in whole or in part, from—
(A)tolls;
(B)user fees;
(C)payments owing to the obligor under a public-private partnership; or
(D)other dedicated revenue sources that also secure or fund the project obligations.
(7)In the case of a project that is undertaken by an entity that is not a State or local government or an agency or instrumentality of a State or local government, the project that the entity is undertaking shall be publicly sponsored as provided in paragraph (3).
(8)A State, local government, agency or instrumentality of a State or local government, or public authority may submit to the Secretary an application under paragraph (4), under which a private party to a public-private partnership will be—
(A)the obligor; and
(B)identified later through completion of a procurement and selection of the private party.
(9)The Secretary shall determine that financial assistance for the project under the TIFIA program will—
(A)foster, if appropriate, partnerships that attract public and private investment for the project;
(B)enable the project to proceed at an earlier date than the project would otherwise be able to proceed or reduce the lifecycle costs (including debt service costs) of the project; and
(C)reduce the contribution of Federal grant assistance for the project.
(10)(A)Except as provided in subparagraph (B), to be eligible for assistance under the TIFIA program, the applicant shall demonstrate a reasonable expectation that the contracting process for construction of the project can commence by no later than 90 days after the date on which a Federal credit instrument is obligated for the project under the TIFIA program.
(B)In the case of a project capitalizing a rural projects fund, the State infrastructure bank shall demonstrate, not later than 2 years after the date on which a secured loan is obligated for the project under the TIFIA program, that the bank has executed a loan agreement with a borrower for a rural infrastructure project in accordance with section 610. After the demonstration is made, the bank may draw upon the secured loan. At the end of the 2-year period, to the extent the bank has not used the loan commitment, the Secretary may extend the term of the loan or withdraw the loan commitment.
(11)In the case of a project to be carried out through a public-private partnership, the public partner shall have—
(A)conducted a value for money analysis or similar comparative analysis; and
(B)determined the appropriateness of the public-private partnership agreement.
(b)(1)The Secretary shall establish a rolling application process under which projects that are eligible to receive credit assistance under subsection (a) shall receive credit assistance on terms acceptable to the Secretary, if adequate funds are available to cover the subsidy costs associated with the Federal credit instrument.
(2)(A)The Secretary may enter into a master credit agreement for a program of related projects secured by a common security pledge on terms acceptable to the Secretary.
(B)If the Secretary fully obligates funding to eligible projects for a fiscal year and adequate funding is not available to fund a credit instrument, a project sponsor of an eligible project may elect to enter into a master credit agreement and wait to execute a credit instrument until the fiscal year for which additional funds are available to receive credit assistance.
(3)The Secretary shall require each project applicant to provide a preliminary rating opinion letter from at least 1 rating agency—
(A)indicating that the senior obligations of the project, which may be the Federal credit instrument, have the potential to achieve an investment-grade rating; and
(B)including a preliminary rating opinion on the Federal credit instrument.
(c)(1)In addition to the requirements of this title for highway projects, the requirements of chapter 53 of title 49 for transit projects, the requirements of section 5333(a) of title 49 for rail projects, and the requirements of section 47112(b) and 50101 of title 49 for airport-related projects, the following provisions of law shall apply to funds made available under the TIFIA program and projects assisted with those funds:
(A)Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.).
(B)The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
(C)The Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.).
(2)No funding shall be obligated for a project that has not received an environmental categorical exclusion, a finding of no significant impact, or a record of decision under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
(3)(A)The Secretary shall ensure that the design and construction of a project carried out with assistance under the TIFIA program shall have appropriate payment and performance security, regardless of whether the obligor is a State, local government, agency or instrumentality of a State or local government, public authority, or private party.
(B)If payment and performance security is required to be furnished by applicable State or local statute or regulation, the Secretary may accept such payment and performance security requirements applicable to the obligor if the Federal interest with respect to Federal funds and other project risk related to design and construction is adequately protected.
(C)If there are no payment and performance security requirements applicable to the obligor, the security under section 3131(b) of title 40 or an equivalent State or local requirement, as determined by the Secretary, shall be required.
(d)(1)Except in the case of an application described in subsection (a)(8) and to the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall provide an applicant with a specific estimate of the timeline for the approval or disapproval of the application of the applicant, which, to the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall endeavor to complete by not later than 150 days after the date on which the applicant submits a letter of interest to the Secretary.
(2)Not later than 30 days after the date of receipt of an application under this section, the Secretary shall provide to the applicant a written notice to inform the applicant whether—
(A)the application is complete; or
(B)additional information or materials are needed to complete the application.
(3)Not later than 60 days after the date of issuance of the written notice under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall provide to the applicant a written notice informing the applicant whether the Secretary has approved or disapproved the application.
(e)Any credit instrument secured under the TIFIA program may be used to finance up to 100 percent of the cost of development phase activities as described in section 601(a)(2)(A).
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Civil Rights Act of 1964, referred to in subsec. (c)(1)(A), is Pub. L. 88–352, July 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 241. Title VI of the Act is classified generally to subchapter V (§ 2000d et seq.) of chapter 21 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 2000a of Title 42 and Tables. The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, referred to in subsec. (c)(1)(B), (2), is Pub. L. 91–190, Jan. 1, 1970, 83 Stat. 852, which is classified generally to chapter 55 (§ 4321 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 4321 of Title 42 and Tables. The Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, referred to in subsec. (c)(1)(C), is act Jan. 2, 1971, Pub. L. 91–646, 84 Stat. 1894, and which is classified principally to chapter 61 (§ 4601 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 4601 of Title 42 and Tables.
Amendments
2021—Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(iv). Pub. L. 117–58, § 12001(b)(1), substituted “an investment-grade rating” for “a rating” and “$150,000,000” for “$75,000,000”. Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 117–58, § 12001(b)(2), substituted “is senior debt” for “is the senior debt” and “total amount of other senior debt and the Federal credit instrument is less than $150,000,000” for “credit instrument is for an amount less than $75,000,000”. Subsec. (a)(11). Pub. L. 117–58, § 11508(d)(3), added par. (11). Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 117–58, § 12001(c), substituted “the requirements of section 5333(a) of title 49 for rail projects, and the requirements of section 47112(b) and 50101 of title 49 for airport-related projects,” for “and the requirements of section 5333(a) of title 49 for rail projects,” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 117–58, § 12002(a), added par. (3). Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 117–58, § 12001(d), added par. (1), redesignated former pars. (1) and (2) as (2) and (3), respectively, and, in par. (3), substituted “paragraph (2)” for “paragraph (1)”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 117–58, § 12001(g), substituted “section 601(a)(2)(A)” for “section 601(a)(1)(A)”. 2015—Subsec. (a)(1), (2)(A), (3). Pub. L. 114–94, § 2001(b)(1)(A)–(C), substituted “the TIFIA program” for “this chapter”. Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 114–94, § 2001(b)(1)(D)(i), substituted “Eligible project cost parameters” for “Eligible project costs” in heading. Subsec. (a)(5)(A). Pub. L. 114–94, § 2001(b)(1)(D)(ii)(I), substituted “subparagraph (B), a project under the TIFIA program” for “subparagraph (B), to be eligible for assistance under this chapter, a project” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (a)(5)(A)(i). Pub. L. 114–94, § 2001(b)(1)(D)(ii)(II), added cl. (i) and struck out former cl. (i) which read as follows: “(I) $50,000,000; or “(II) in the case of a rural infrastructure project, $25,000,000; and”. Subsec. (a)(5)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 114–94, § 2001(b)(1)(D)(ii)(III), struck out “assistance” after “highway”. Subsec. (a)(5)(B). Pub. L. 114–94, § 2001(b)(1)(D)(iii), substituted “Exceptions” for “Intelligent transportation system projects” in heading, designated existing provisions as cl. (i), inserted cl. (i) heading, and added cls. (ii) to (iv). Subsec. (a)(9). Pub. L. 114–94, § 2001(b)(1)(E), substituted “the TIFIA program” for “this chapter” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (a)(10). Pub. L. 114–94, § 2001(b)(1)(F), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), inserted subpar. (A) heading, substituted “Except as provided in subparagraph (B), to be eligible” for “To be eligible”, “the TIFIA program” for “this chapter” in two places, and “no later than” for “not later than”, and added subpar. (B). Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 114–94, § 2001(b)(2), added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “If the Secretary fully obligates funding to eligible projects in a fiscal year, and adequate funding is not available to fund a credit instrument, a project sponsor of an eligible project may elect to enter into a master credit agreement and wait until the earlier of— “(A) the following fiscal year; and “(B) the fiscal year during which additional funds are available to receive credit assistance.” Subsecs. (c)(1), (e). Pub. L. 114–94, § 2001(b)(3), (4), substituted “the TIFIA program” for “this chapter”. 2012—Pub. L. 112–141 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to determination of eligibility and project selection, consisting of subsecs. (a) to (c). 2005—Pub. L. 109–59, § 1602(d), renumbered section 182 of this title as this section. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–59, § 1602(b)(5), substituted “this chapter” for “this subchapter” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 109–59, § 1602(b)(5), substituted “this chapter” for “this subchapter”. Pub. L. 109–59, § 1601(b)(1), added par. (1) and struck out heading and text of former par. (1). Text read as follows: “The project— “(A) shall be included in the State transportation plan required under section 135; and “(B) at such time as an agreement to make available a Federal credit instrument is entered into under this subchapter, shall be included in the approved State transportation improvement program required under section 134.” Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 109–59, § 1601(b)(1), added par. (2) and struck out heading and text of former par. (2). Text read as follows: “A State, a local servicer identified under section 185(a), or the entity undertaking the project shall submit a project application to the Secretary.” Subsec. (a)(3)(A). Pub. L. 109–59, § 1602(b)(5), substituted “this chapter” for “this subchapter” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (a)(3)(A)(i). Pub. L. 109–59, § 1601(b)(2), substituted “$50,000,000” for “$100,000,000”. Subsec. (a)(3)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 109–59, § 1601(b)(3), substituted “33⅓” for “50”. Subsec. (a)(3)(B). Pub. L. 109–59, § 1601(b)(4), substituted “$15,000,000” for “$30,000,000”. Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 109–59, § 1601(b)(5), substituted “The Federal credit instrument” for “Project financing” and inserted “that also secure the project obligations” before period at end. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 109–59, § 1601(c)(1), substituted “eligibility requirements” for “eligibility criteria”. Subsec. (b)(2)(A)(iii), (iv), (vi). Pub. L. 109–59, § 1602(b)(5), substituted “this chapter” for “this subchapter”. Subsec. (b)(2)(A)(viii). Pub. L. 109–59, § 1602(b)(2), inserted “and chapter 1” after “this chapter”. Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 109–59, § 1601(c)(2), inserted “, which may be the Federal credit instrument,” after “obligations”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 109–59, § 1602(b)(5), substituted “this chapter” for “this subchapter” in introductory provisions.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2021 AmendmentAmendment by section 11508(d)(3) of Pub. L. 117–58 only applicable to a public-private partnership agreement entered into on or after Nov. 15, 2021, see section 11508(e) of Pub. L. 117–58, set out in a Requirements for Transportation Projects Carried Out Through Public-Private Partnerships note under section 106 of this title. Amendment by section 12001(b)–(d), (g) of Pub. L. 117–58 effective Oct. 1, 2021, except as otherwise provided, see section 10003 of Pub. L. 117–58, set out as a note under section 101 of this title. Pub. L. 117–58, div. A, title II, § 12002(b), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 622, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this section [amending this section] shall apply with respect to any agreement for credit assistance entered into on or after the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 15, 2021].”
Effective Date
of 2015 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 114–94 effective Oct. 1, 2015, see section 1003 of Pub. L. 114–94, set out as a note under section 5313 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
Effective Date
of 2012 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 112–141 effective Oct. 1, 2012, see section 3(a) of Pub. L. 112–141, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment note under section 101 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
23 U.S.C. § 602
Title 23 — Highways
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73