Press Release|Public Finance
KBRA Assigns K1+ Rating to TBTA Payroll Mobility Tax (PMT) Bond Anticipation Notes, Series 2025A; Affirms K1+ Rating on Outstanding TBTA PMT Bond Anticipation Notes and AA+ Rating and Stable Outlook on TBTA PMT Senior Lien Bonds
4 Mar 2025 | New York
KBRA assigns a short-term rating of K1+ to the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA) Payroll Mobility Tax (PMT) Bond Anticipation Notes, Series 2025A. Concurrently, KBRA affirms the K1+ short-term rating on the outstanding TBTA PMT Bond Anticipation Notes, Series 2024B, and affirms the long-term rating of AA+ with a Stable Outlook for outstanding TBTA PMT Senior Lien Bonds.
Key Credit Considerations
The rating was assigned because of the following key credit considerations:
Credit Positives
- Pledged Revenues provide ample coverage of pro-forma PMT MADS, which occurs in CY 2040.
- The breadth and diversity of the MCTD wage base has contributed to the stability of Mobility Tax and ATA Receipts throughout economic cycles.
- A conservative 2.25x ABT based on historical pledged revenues and pro-forma MADS insulates against overleveraging of the PMT senior lien.
Credit Challenges
- Mobility Tax Receipts are subject to economic volatility.
- ATA Receipts have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels. In KBRAs view, revenue growth from the surcharge on metered taxicab pickups is likely to be limited due to competition from ride-share companies.
Rating Sensitivities
For Upgrade
- An increase in current PMT rates or the wage base subject thereto that allows MADS coverage from Pledged Revenues to remain comfortably above the 2.25x ABT even as additional PMT obligations are issued.
For Downgrade
- A decrease in current PMT rates or the wage base subject thereto that causes a material, sustained decline in MADS coverage from Pledged Revenues.
- A sustained economic downturn that results in significantly reduced in Pledged Revenues and debt service coverage.
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