Comprehensive highway public-private partnership (PPP) programs are relatively new to the United States and not widely used. Limited highway funds, unmet needs for new highway capacity interest from private investors, and other factors have led to substantial discussion of PPP projects and programs at the State and Federal levels and implementation of projects in a few leading States. In contrast, some countries have extensive and, in some cases, long-term experience with infrastructure PPPs, particularly highways. This presents a unique opportunity to capitalize on the knowledge and experience gained in the international community, where tested policies and practices are in place.
A desk study was completed to identify the countries with the most potential to provide relevant and current informa- tion on PPPs. Subsequently, a team of nine professionals representing government, private industry, and academe visited Australia, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom in June 2008 to collect and evaluate information about PPP programs and projects for highway infrastructure. The team met with representatives of the public and private sectors involved in PPP arrangements. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) jointly sponsored this scan through the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP).
The purpose of this scan was to (1) examine programs, policies, and practices used by other countries that actively solicit and involve the private sector in the delivery of highway infrastructure; (2) document lessons learned; and (3) make implementation recommendations that will improve U.S. policy and practice.
For the purposes of this report, a public-private partnership is defined as a contract between the public and private sectors for the delivery of a project or service in which the private partner has responsibility for acquiring the majority of the necessary financing.