By Jon M. Williams | Public sector agencies are increasingly exploring the use of public-private partnerships to increase funding available for infrastructure improvement. This study examines the information that is available to properly evaluate the benefits and risks associated with allowing the private sector to have a greater role in financing and developing highway infrastructure. The report will be of interest to public sector decision makers seeking to leverage or supplement traditional sources of funding with private investment and other participation. Information for the study was gathered through a literature review, a survey of U.S. state departments of transportation and Canadian ministries of transportation, and a second survey of other stakeholders. Supplemental information was gathered through interviews. Jeffrey N. Buxbaum and Iris N. Ortiz of Cambridge Systematics, Inc., collected and synthesized the information and wrote the report. The members of the topic panel are acknowledged on the preceding page. This synthesis is an immediately useful document that records the practices that were acceptable within the limitations of the knowledge available at the time of its preparation. As progress in research and practice continues, new knowledge will be added to that now at hand. |