Several Web-based efforts from the private sector are making it easier for investors to price municipal bonds for sale in the secondary market and to buy and sell them without a traditional broker--all of which should improve investor access to and comfort with the municipal bond market

Last year was not the hottest for the muni bond market. With interest rates higher than they were in 1998, refundings were lower--and that took some of the sizzle out of 1999's volume.