Since president-elect Donald Trump promised to end federal funding to sanctuary cities many city and county leaders around the country have been wondering what that might mean for them. The term sanctuary city doesn't have a legal definition. Jurisdictions that consider themselves sanctuary cities generally have policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center has identified 364 counties and 39 cities that have policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration officials. For many jurisdictions, this means declining to hold suspected undocumented immigrants past their scheduled release dates. Some jurisdictions have laws preventing police officers from asking the immigration status of residents. Often this policy is implemented to encourage immigrant communities to report crimes or cooperate with police.

The president-elect and many other proponents of tougher immigration enforcement have said sanctuary city policies allow criminals to go free. Undocumented immigrants could commit more crimes that would have been prevented if they had been deported.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials announced a new federal loan and guarantee program created by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) of 2014 to accelerate investment in the nation's water infrastructure. EPA's surveys of communities across the country show that the U.S. needs about $660 billion in investments for drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure over the next 20 years.

WIFIA authorizes the EPA to provide long-term, low-cost rate loans, at U.S. Treasury rates, for up to 49 percent of eligible project costs for projects that will cost at least $20 million for large communities and $5 million for small communities (population of 25,000 or less).

"WIFIA is structured to work hand-in-hand with the State Revolving Funds - giving states and prospective borrowers the opportunity to decide which program is best to support a given project, or whether both together should do so," said EPA Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water Joel Beauvais.

For more information about the program, visit www.epa.gov/wifia or email wifia@epa.gov.

The Federal Highway Administration has issued a new guide to help states, local governments and transit agencies design flexible roadways and increase safety. Achieving Multimodal Networks: Applying Design Flexibility and Reducing Conflicts encourages a flexible, holistic design approach. The guide offers ways to achieve multimodal design in real-world scenarios. Case studies from actual transportation projects utilizing multimodal design are included. 

U.S. Department of Transportation officials announced $300.3 million in grants to 32 University Transportation Centers (UTCs) to advance research and education programs that address critical transportation challenges.  The announcement includes awards of up to $72.5 million for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016.

"Our nation faces unprecedented challenges from population growth, a changing climate and increasing freight volumes. Universities are at the forefront of identifying solutions, researching critical emerging issues, and ensuring improved access to opportunity for all Americans," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

The Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) specifies six research priorities which UTCs selected through this competition must address: improving mobility of people and goods; reducing congestion; promoting safety; improving the durability and extending the life of transportation infrastructure; preserving the environment and preserving the existing transportation system. Click here for the complete list of 2016 UTC Grant award recipients.

The Federal Highway Administration issued a final rule that allows the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) method to be used on highway federal-aid projects nationwide. Under this contracting method, a single contractor may provide pre-construction and construction services. CM/GC allows construction expertise to be used during the design phase, which officials said often leads to innovation, improved quality and reduced time and cost on complex projects.  The final rule was required under MAP-21 and effectively opens the door for the use of the CM/GC method by state departments of transportation.

Texas business leaders are opposing a bathroom bill the state's lieutenant governor has designated as one of his top priorities in the upcoming legislative session beginning in January. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has made the Women's Privacy Act, SB6, one of his top ten legislative objectives. The bill would ban those born male, including transgender women, from women's restrooms. 

Texas Association of Business representatives said the bill, and additional proposed legislation to shield religious objectors to same-sex marriage, could cost the state between $964 million and $8.5 billion and more than 100,000 jobs. An economic impact study commissioned by the group from St. Edward's University backed up the group's claim that anti-LGBT legislation would cause the loss of revenue from tourism and events.

Salt Lake City officials announced a two-year plan to lay roads and water infrastructure in the area designated for a new state prison. The prison will be located near the Salt Lake City International Airport in an area with 3,600 acres zoned for light-industrial and commercial development. The cost for two major roads, water, sewer, gas, fiber-optic cables and lighting totals $90 million. About $47 million will come from the state  to pay for the prison's needed infrastructure. Another $43 million will be used by the city to expand the infrastructure and develop the greater area.

Fort Pierce, Fla., commissioners plans to seek proposals in early 2017 to redevelop an 11-acre waterfront site in the downtown area. A city report proposes a six-story hotel with a convention and conference center for the site located between North Indian River Drive and North Second Street. Condos or luxury apartments and small grocery store are also recommended. The site was previously home to a power plant decommissioned in 2008. Site clean-up is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2016.

Washington State Department of Transportation officials are giving away a bridge. The State Route 508 South Fork Newaukum River Bridge is available to someone willing to do a structural engineering survey and then use the bridge in a way that preserves historic relevance. It is located about 75 miles south of Seattle. The 1930s pony-truss span is rated structurally deficient and scheduled for replacement. For more information, click here.

Ohio University officials have issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ)  to identify a team to design, build, operate and maintain a mixed-use development at a former mental health facility the university owns near its Athens campus. The Ridges project involves renovating or removing more than 30 buildings with 700,000 square feet on 700 acres of adjoining land. Potential uses include housing and academic uses, office space, retail and/or restaurants. Responses to the RFQ are due Dec. 21. A Request for proposals will be issued Jan. 13, for which responses will be due Feb. 17. The developer will be selected in May.

The Chicago Transit Authority will receive a major cash infusion to help modernize, speed up and add capacity to its urban train system. The Chicago City Council members approved $1.1 billion dollars in spending just in time to apply for a $1.1 billion dollar matching grant from the federal government. The $2.3 billion Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) project would rebuild the Red and Purple Line tracks from Lawrence to Howard, upgrade signals, reconstruct four stations and create a flyover just north of the Belmont stop. Tax increment financing will be used to pay for the local portion of the project.

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) officials announced the completion of an environmental review needed to replace the Civil War-era Baltimore and Potomac (B&P) Tunnel. The review of the route for a new tunnel incorporates changes sought by communities and neighborhoods in Baltimore. The new tunnel would be about 100 feet underground, compared to the existing tunnel's 20-foot depth. The federal government has invested $60 million for the preliminary design and environmental review for this project.  The review includes proposed mitigation measures including establishing several grant funds to support community development and recreation facilities and other measures.

General Services Administration (GSA) officials announced the federal agency will issue a request for proposals in January for construction managers to build a new $2 billion FBI headquarters. The design-build project of the new consolidated headquarters facility will include up to 2.1 million rentable square feet and be located in the Washington, D.C. metro area in Maryland or Virginia. If Congress green lights funding for the new building, the GSA will reveal its contractor choice and site selection in March. Design and construction is expected to last at least five years. Click here for more information.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich announced the state will invest $15 million in advanced technology along the Smart Mobility Corridor. The 35-mile stretch of highway northwest of Columbus  is being used to test new automotive technology, including self-driving vehicles. The state transportation authority plans to install high-capacity fiber-optic cable to link researchers and traffic monitors with data from embedded and wireless sensors along the roadway. The project will align with work underway in Columbus as part of a $40 million Smart City grant and more than $90 million in additional funding. Corridor work is scheduled to begin in May.

LaGuardia Airport in New York is being renovated through what may be the largest public-private partnership (P3/PPP) in the country. Construction is underway on the $4 billion project, which will scrap the current hub-and-spoke design of the main terminal and replace it with two islands of gates connected to the main terminal building with pedestrian bridges. All of the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the new terminal will be carried out by a group of private companies who are funding $2.6 billion of the construction costs and will operate the terminal through 2050.

The Sun Link streetcar was the topic of a recent town hall in Tuscon, Ariz., hosted by the local Association of Realtors. Developers, real estate professionals and representatives from other interested businesses discussed with local officials the future route of the streetcar and a possible public-private partnership (P3/PPP) to expand the line. Interested parties included developers planning to build retirement communities along a proposed route. The route also includes a technology park and other land suitable for development.

University of Massachusetts Boston officials began construction on the school's first-ever dormitory.  The $120 million project is being built utilizing a public-private partnership (P3/PPP) with a developer who will lease a portion of the campus. The student housing complex is expected to offer 1,077 beds for first-year students by the fall 2018 semester. The project will include two buildings with seminar rooms, study lounges and a 23,000-square-foot dining hall.

Noblesville, Ind., officials are planning to spend $15 million to build a youth sports facility they intend to be one of the most advanced indoor sports complexes in the country. The Noblesville Fieldhouse at Finch Creek Park will be a public-private partnership (P3/PPP) between the city and a sports facility operator with some funding coming from tax increment financing. The 130,000-square-foot facility will include five hardwood courts, 75,000 square feet of indoor turf and a physical therapy office. A farm-to-table restaurant is also in the plans. The Noblesville Common Council is expected to vote on the project in a Dec. 20 meeting.

Hendersonville, N.C., city council members approved a request for proposals (RFP) that will go out to private developers interested in building a downtown hotel. The hotel would be constructed at the Grey Hosiery Mill property at Grove Street and Fourth Avenue. The city is seeking a developer to build a 130-135-room, 75,000-square-foot hotel that would preserve the original 1915 portion of the Grey Hosiery Mill as a restaurant and event space for 200 guests. Officials estimate total development cost at $24.7 million, including site acquisition. Proposals are due in March and a partner is expected to be selected in April.