Governor Deval Patrick and legislative leaders announced that the Commonwealth has saved $190 million in transportation-related costs as a direct result of sweeping transportation reform signed into law one month ago.
Due to five risky financial transactions – so-called “swaptions” - entered into by the Turnpike Authority in 2001, the Authority was at direct risk of having to pay the financial institution UBS $257 million dollars immediately. The passage of transportation reform improved the Authority’s bond rating to the point of negating the need to pay $190 million of that amount.
In addition, UBS extended the July 24th deadline for payment or other resolution of the final swaption – valued at approximately $67 million – to allow for more time for the state to reach a similarly positive result.
Comments