The TIFIA programme was established to provide credit assistance to qualified infrastructure projects in the United States (US). According to the Florida Department of Transport:

"The TIFIA credit program is designed to fill market gaps and leverage substantial private co-investment by providing supplemental and subordinate capital."

The programme's main goal is to assist in improving transportation infrastructure in the US and close the increasing gap by attracting and enabling private participation. The programme does not provide a grant to states and cities; it offers loans with favourable terms to assist in securing the required capital from the private sector. The programme's flexible loan repayment terms allow the delay of repayments for up to five years after substantial completion. The programme also provided credit guarantees to lenders and offers standby lines of credit to assist with project cash flows.