Transportation public–private partnership market in the United States: moving beyond its current state

Over the last two decades, the United States (US) market for transportation public_private partnerships (PPPs) has made gradual if unsteady progress. While the pace of the market’s growth remains unclear, the US will likely continue its shift toward increased provision of transportation services by the private sector; but how ready is it to do so? This chapter revisits an appraisal of the US transportation PPP market in 2009 relative to international practices to gauge where the US stands roughly a decade hence. Clearly, the US has matured with increased federal state and local experience, but the market is still evolving and remains rather fragmented. Moreover, initiatives by federal and state agencies and professional organizations to bolster public agency capacity are well intentioned, but they lack coordination. Perhaps the US should follow the lead of Australia, which established Infrastructure Australia, and create a comparable body to harmonize PPPs in America.