There is a widening gap between our nation's highway infrastructure requirements and our collective ability to fund them through traditional public means. Public-Private Partnerships hold great promise for addressing this gap, both by increasing funds available to finance important transportation priorities and improving the efficiency in transportation project construction, operation, and maintenance. Not only do they provide a potential mechanism for constructing new facilities, but they also can play a significant role in operating and maintaining existing highway facilities.
At FHWA, we have been devoting significant resources to exploring the role Public-Private Partnerships can play in the future of our highway system. We believe they may hold the answer to our nation's growing transportation needs. We will continue to work to facilitate Public-Private Partnerships through education and by removing barriers and impediments. As we develop new tools or information, we will update this Manual so it continues to serve as a comprehensive resource for Public-Private Partnership guidance.