Complex governance system issues for transportation renewal projects

• Main Authors: Kelly Strong, Sereyrithy Chhun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2014-01-01
• Series: Urban, Planning and Transport Research
• Subjects: public–private partnerships; project governance; project procurement
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21650020.2014.908737

The use of public–private partnerships (PPPs) is growing in the United States in response to reductions in funding combined with an aging highway transportation infrastructure. Many other countries have longer experience with PPP and a greater understanding of the issues surrounding their use. The main governance issues to be addressed in PPPs deal with risk-sharing, relationships, contracts, and legal framework, and standard processes within dedicated organizational units. These governance issues are examined in the context of a case study for the US 36 Phase II PPP in Colorado. Findings suggest that for the US Phase II project, governance issues are resolved through more relational forms than prescriptive contractual language. Colorado has established a dedicated organizational unit to facilitate the use of PPPs, but there exist no standards or best practices in the United States for procurement, concession terms, or risk-sharing.