USDOT unveils Build America Transportation Investment Center

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently unveiled its Build America Transportation Investment Center (BATIC), which will serve as the single point of contact and coordination for states, municipalities and project sponsors looking to utilize federal transportation expertise, apply for federal transportation credit programs and explore ways to access private capital in public-private partnerships.

 

Andrew Curtis Right will serve as the executive director of BATIC. Prior to serving at USDOT, Right worked in the financial services industry advising on transportation infrastructure transactions.

“With his background in civil engineering and infrastructure financing, no one is more qualified and ready to lead BATIC than Andrew,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “He and his team will provide project partners and potential investors with the clarity and technical assistance they need to move more projects forward and reduce our nation’s infrastructure deficit.”

BATIC was established a year ago and is the product of President Obama’s Build America Investment Initiative. BATIC will assist project sponsors to navigate the procedural, permitting and financial barriers to increase infrastructure investment and development.

BATIC will work with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) through a cooperative agreement to establish The BATIC Institute: An AASHTO Center for Excellence. The BATIC Institute will aim to improve state department of transportations and other public sector organizations’ ability to effectively employ project finance tools through a program of training, sharing best practices and technical assistance. As part of this effort, AASHTO and USDOT will work with project sponsors across the country to identify institutional capacitybuilding needs and develop resources.

“Transportation departments are increasingly challenged to find the financial resources needed to maintain and modernize their aging infrastructure systems,” said AASHTO Executive Director Bud Wright. “This Institute is a vital resource for state and local government officials looking to identify and utilize ‘real world’ solutions to finance transportation projects.”

In the fall of 2016, USDOT will be unveiling a new state-of-the-art center of excellence for BATIC. The space will be modernized to include updated standard design features, modernized technology and collaborative space designed to foster the “one stop shopping” concept that the BATIC embodies as a core business practice.

 

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