This chapter provides a summary of transportation project PPPs around the world during the past two decades and available information on the current activity in selected countries not covered in earlier chapters of this report. The information contained in this chapter demonstrates the wide-ranging application of PPPs to the financing and delivery of transportation infrastructure projects in many parts of the world. Given the absence of dedicated funding sources such as the Transportation Trust Fund in the United States, many of these countries faced the fiscal and resource challenges to providing for the accessibility needs of their growing economies and populations. Major changes in the economic strength and relationships among nations have prompted these nations to seek alternative ways to expedite the development of transportation infrastructure to improve regional accessibility and support their economic growth. Examples of this include:
• Creation of the European Union;
• Breakup of the Soviet Union;
• Reunification of eastern European nations with their western counterparts; and
• Emergence of both China and India as major players in the global economy.
The evolution of PPPs to rapidly meet these emerging needs has led to their refinement and proliferation in type and number, with many more countries moving to establish the legal authority to enter into PPPs to expedite financing and delivery of surface transportation projects prompted by the changes noted above.