Public Interest Concerns of Public-Private Partnership

U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN) and Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) have released a position paper that outlines their concerns over public-private partnerships (PPP) in transportation. The authors believe that public-private partnerships can help create circumstances favorable to more effective and efficient management, construction, maintenance and operation of transportation facilities. However, they are concerned that these partnerships might necessitate increased oversight to ensure that the public interest is protected and that the integrity of the national surface transportation system is preserved. They offer recommendations to help ensure that public-private partnership agreements do not violate the public interest and the viability of our country’s surface transportation system.