Transportation and Infrastructure Policy

The one constant in public policy is change. For clients in the highly regulated transportation and infrastructure sectors, it is essential to anticipate policy changes, and be able to effectively understand and navigate them. At Holland & Knight, we use our team-based approach to help clients tackle the most pressing and complex legislative and regulatory issues facing transportation and infrastructure stakeholders.

Holland & Knight has consistently been recognized among the best and largest transportation lobbying and regulatory firms in Washington, D.C., by a number of legal and political publications.

Our lawyers and policy advisors have established a strong record of securing billions in federal, state and local funding for transportation and infrastructure clients. We excel at issues at the intersection of transportation and technology by helping to adapt legislation and regulation to our client’s technology and fund new applications of technology to improve the transportation sector. We have deep experience in building and fostering public-private partnerships. We also help clients manage industry policy disputes and enforcement risk, deploying a wide array of advocacy tools.

We are distinctive not only in our composition, but also in our campaign-style approach to representation. We rely on years of experience working on complex matters that often overlap transportation, technology and infrastructure policy. We maintain close relationships with those at the top levels of public service, including policy experts in the legislative and executive branches. Our ability to pivot quickly between development of legislation and subsequent regulatory compliance differentiates our team, reflecting our experience and forward-looking posture.

Extensive Experience to Serve Quickly Evolving Industries

Our team of attorneys and policy advisors understands firsthand the business needs and goals of transportation and infrastructure entities operating in both the private and public sectors, including airlines, airports, municipalities, contractors, railroads, vehicle manufacturers, surface transportation and shipping companies, maritime companies, equipment owning and leasing companies, pipelines, maritime entities and many other operators.

Our lawyers and professionals have deep experience in public policy development, legislative advocacy and regulatory compliance, and include former public officials who have worked in various federal and state agencies, on congressional committee staffs and for U.S. representatives and senators. They have crafted legislation in every facet of transportation and infrastructure policy and are well respected throughout all levels of government. Our team also has important commercial, industry-specific expertise that enables it to proactively identify and address emerging policy challenges.

Holland & Knight's worldwide platform serves as a broad resource for related matters. We routinely utilize the firm's global network to gain further insight into legal and policy issues and better understand cutting-edge technologies and complex financing facilities, among other strategic approaches.

This multilayered depth gives us strong insight into how Washington works and a hands-on knowledge of the most current regulations and technological advances.

We are proud to serve clients across a number of transportation-related industries, including:

• airlines
• airports
• advanced air mobility
• autonomous transportation
• automotive manufacturing
• aviation
• construction
• drone operations
• electric and alternative fuel vehicles
• freight and passenger rail
• infrastructure reuse and green infrastructure
• state, local and Tribal governments
• maritime
• motor carriers
• pipelines
• port infrastructure and terminal operations
• roads and highways
• smart infrastructure
• transit and roads
• travel service marketers and providers

Technology is transforming the way people live and move about the country. Holland & Knight was one of the first law firms in the U.S. to establish a Drone Team and an Autonomous Transportation Team. Our team helps clients identify potential legislative and regulatory blockers to the adoption of new transportation technology and comes alongside the government to help address these challenges to enable the growth of new mobility solutions.

Assisting Municipal Clients Secure Transportation Funding

Holland & Knight's Local Government Advocacy Team has played an active role for our municipal clients in each of the recent transportation reauthorization bills, including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA or bipartisan infrastructure bill), Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) and the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)  authorization bill.

We have successfully navigated complex, highly competitive federal programs and funding opportunities, such as:

• Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grants (formerly known as TIGER and BUILD)
• Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) Grant Program | U.S. Department of Transportation (nationally significant multimodal freight and highway projects)
• Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment (ATCMTD) grants
• Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) allocations
• Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Program – including funding for zero and low-emission technology
• Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Transit-Oriented Development funds

In addition, we have helped our clients secure grants from the IIJA, Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and other initiatives such as Safe Streets and Roads for All, the Bridge Investment Program, Railway-Highway Crossings Program and Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program.

Our team assists airlines, airports and other transportation companies in shaping, commenting on and complying with industry rules and regulations, and in deploying regulatory tools to advance their strategic objectives.

We are highly experienced in developing successful legislative, regulatory and funding strategies for our transportation and municipal clients. Our professionals are adroit in handling virtually any matter involving transportation and infrastructure policy.