Type of Organization

i. Interest Groups

Public interest organization

Top benefits of PPP

1. Motorists internalizing costs of road use;

2. When done right, ensuring money from roads for public
transportation;

3. Potentially faster construction/operational changes

PPP Concern 1

Public entities might strike economically harmful deals

PPP Concern Mitigation 1

Ensure sufficient public input and governmental oversight, along with expert independent advice, to prevent such situations. Protections probably need to be in state authorizing statutes.

PPP Concern 2

Private sector's interest is not always consistent with the public interest; e.g., toll increases could put more vehicles on non-toll roads and thus increase public costs.

PPP Concern Mitigation 2

Increase public interest protections in P3 contracts

PPP Concern 3

Greenhouse gas emissions typically are not addressed, since more vehicles mean more profit for the private sector.

PPP Concern Mitigation 3

PPP Concern 4

Concession lengths are too long to address technological changes, accountability of decision makers, etc.

PPP Concern Mitigation 4

Limit concession lengths to approximately 30-35 years, or roughly one generation.

PPP Concern 5

PPP Concern Mitigation 5

Factors to consider by decision-makers

1. Economic advantage over the long term;

2. Effects on related transportation systems;

3. Public involvement and buy-in.

Contract structures/techniques to protect public interests

Other perspectives

The [state] P3 statute does not include any public involvement requirements or legislative voting on the contract, does not have a concession length limitation, and does not require high-level state DOT involvement. This could lead to a very poorly written P3 contract (for one of the "bridges to nowhere") that costs the state lots of money and gives P3 agreements a bad name.