Project costs over the useful life of a capital improvement-including construction, operations, maintenance, and preservation-may be reduced by the application of a PPP. For example, the jet fans applied instead of vent shafts along the cut-and-cover tunnel portion of WMATA's Largo Metrorail project were found to be easier to maintain and more efficient to operate. Given their presence along the trackway, however, special equipment was required to maintain them. The design-build offered to provide WMATA the equipment necessary given the substantial capital savings.
BART expects the O&M component of the DBFO approach being applied to the agency's planned delivery of the Oakland Airport Connector project to result in operating efficiencies for the link. As formulated, the project teams pre-qualified to design, construct, and operate the system would apply proprietary systems, the operation of which will benefit from the technology owner's detailed know-how. In addition, the consortium will not be subject to BART's labor agreements which could create a higher operating cost for the connector if the project were directly operated by the agency.