A decades-long plan to connect the Ambassador Bridge, one of the most important U.S.-Canada crossings, to U.S. interstates is on a fast track after a judge sided with Michigan DOT over its erstwhile private partner in the $230 million project.
public-private partnerships
Infrastructure banks offer funding opportunities for transportation projects
Via infrastructure banks, states or cities can leverage money for transportation projects, accelerate construction timelines, and recycle assistance for future transportation projects. Infrastructure banks can be used in conjunction with traditional financing and other innovative tools to maximize transportation investments. As Chicago announces the first local infrastructure bank, the White House pushes for a national infrastructure bank.
Oregon leads the way on use of solar installations for transportation facilities
Although begun in 2008, the largest component yet of the Oregon Solar Highway recently opened on I-5 in Clackamas County. The Baldock project, a public-private partnership between ODOT and Portland General Electric (PGE), is an array in a safety rest area near Wilsonville. Solar installations in transportation corridors are common in Europe, but are almost unknown in the U.S. However, Oregon plans more, and has also produced a manual, which can be downloaded.
The Case for Business Investment in Public Transportation (APTA, 2011)
The report focuses on the state of public transportation in America, and offers analysis of issues important to private investors when they weight the potential for investment into the expansion or maintenance of a transit …
Moving Forward on Public Private Partnerships: U.S. and International Experience with PPP Units (Brookings Institution, 2011)
This report examines how states can create Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and still avoid the pitfalls of these often complex financial contracts. Download the full report.
Bike sharing takes off in America
Cities across the country, from large (Chicago) to small (Spartanburg, SC) have implemented bike sharing programs over the last few years, but 2011 seems to be the year that these programs really took off. Most urban …
Virginia DOT begins public-private partnership to maintain state rest areas
To defray operating and maintenance costs associated with rest areas and welcome centers in the state, the Virginia Department of Transportation recently announced that it has entered into a public-private partnership with CHR Catering to …
Indiana toll road trouble
Although public-private partnerships (PPPs) for transportation infrastructure are often portrayed as losing propositions for the public, the private partner is sometimes on the losing end of the deal as well. As reported in an article …
Public-private partnerships for transportation: A toolkit for legislators
The National Conference of State Legislatures has released a report designed to help promote a sound public policy approach when considering Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) related to transportation projects. The website notes: “With the growing interest in PPPs, …