The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT) Office of Public-Private Partnerships recently announced it is accepting unsolicited proposals for transportation projects from the private sector until the end of the month.
“PennDOT operates one of the most ambitious and comprehensive public-private partnership (P3) programs in the nation,” the agency’s website said. “The featured projects bring value to Pennsylvania by significantly reducing structurally deficient bridges, supporting motorist safety, enhancing mass transit and rail service, and in some cases, generating new revenue to support future investment.”
Proposals should concern aviation, bridges, ports, rail and roads, and should include ways to manage existing transportation-related services and programs.
Pennsylvania’s P3 law allows transportation authorities and commissions to form partnerships with private companies for transportation-related projects. A seven-member Public Private Transportation Partnership Board examines and approves potential P3 transportation projects.
To be approved, the board must determine if a state operation would be administered more cost-effectively by a private company. Companies then are authorized to submit a proposal. Contracts either will completely or partially authorize companies to take over a project for a defined period of time.
Transit authorities and other transportation entities outside of the governor’s jurisdiction can accept proposals year-round and can establish their own timelines.