IQ Spring 2012: The Conference Issue - (Page 28)

oN the sheLf// Two Books for Two Conferences By Greg caramenico puBLIc-prIvate partNershIps: case studIes oN INfrastructure deveLopMeNt (aMerIcaN socIety of cIvIL eNgINeers press, 2011) As experts continue to warn about the failures of American infrastructure modernization, many states have turned to public-private partnerships (P3s) to reduce their fiscal burdens and spread out risks for their highway and bridge projects. Construction expert Sidney M. Levy’s new 403page book, Public-Private Partnerships: Case Studies on Infrastructure Development, examines this rising trend against the backdrop of the near-crisis in America’s transportation infrastructure. This work should interest anyone involved with designbuild transportation projects. Levy begins by reviewing the grave extent to which American roads, bridges and tunnels desperately need repair or replacement. Technical assessment by the American Society of Civil Engineers and recent risk analysis from Fitch Ratings have confirmed this national problem. Given the increasing insufficiency of state and federal transportation revenue, policy-makers should look toward privately managed projects that can pay for themselves, such as toll roads. Levy argues that P3s can rebuild America’s transportation infrastructure and offers case studies to show the current state of these projects. Private-Public Partnerships addresses recent developments in federal law and policy that enable greater private-sector participation in regional transportation projects. Levy details these changes to available public-financing sources and outlines the procedures used for allocation of national and regional highway funding. IQ readers might find the chapter surveying the major construction players and financiers useful. It profiles companies including Abertis, Global Via and Ferrovial Cintra. State and regional corridor highway toll roads are a natural fit for design-build-operate-maintain (DBOM) contracts. Levy delivers insight into the mechanics of transportation policy-making, following a few state and regional public-private partnerships from their initial planning stages through completion and initial toll revenue receipts. Not all these partnerships are designbuild projects, but many of the book’s case studies examine design-build or DBOM contracts. IQ readers will likely be interested in Levy’s detailed accounts of the bidding and award process for some of these partnerships with state governments, including the Chicago Skyway, Indiana Toll Road and Port of Miami tunnel planning. Individual chapters cover P3s in Florida, Texas, Michigan and Illinois, among other locations, comparing political and logistical obstacles and their solutions. In a book that includes brief discussions of public-private partnerships around the world and the history of American highway development, most of the major challenges and opportunities facing design-builders receive mention. Looking to the future, Levy anticipates P3 opportunities from commuter and commercial rail and dedicated truck lanes to reduce congestion and improve safety. 28 spring//2012 the quarterly publication of the design-build institute of america Image courtesy of aScE

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IQ Spring 2012: The Conference Issue

IQ Spring 2012: The Conference Issue