In addition to the recent passage of comprehensive P3 legislation in Arizona and California, the newly created Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has also been authorized to utilize public private partnerships for transportation projects. Provisions for design-build-operate-maintain (DBOM) and design-build-finance-operate-maintain (DBFOM) procurements are included in Senate Bill 2087, commonly known as the "Transportation Reform Act," under which MassDOT was formed. Under the Act, P3’s may be used for a new or existing highway, road, bridge, tunnel ferry, airport, parking facility, seaport, rail facility or other transportation facilities.
Massachusetts has opted to take markedly different approaches to funding DBOM and DBFOM projects. Payments under DBOM contracts must come in whole or in part from funds appropriated prior to award of the contract or must be secured by tolls or other user charges. In contrast, for DBFOM projects, no public funds may be appropriated to pay for the services provided by the contractor. These restrictions could prove to be a significant hurdle to financing some projects.
Another notable feature of MassDOT’s new P3 program is the establishment of a P3 Infrastructure Oversight Commission which will comment on and approve all requests for proposals (RFPs) for DBOM or DBFOM services. The seven member commission will be composed of experts with experience in the fields of transportation law, public policy, public finance, management consulting, transportation or organizational change. At least one of the commission members will be a representative from the Massachusetts Organization of State Engineers and Sciences.
The P3 portion of the Transportation Reform Act also includes provisions for:
- Asset sales and leases
- Procurement method and evaluation factors
- Stipends
- Funding
- Confidentiality
- Contents of the concession agreement
- Creation of a public-private partnership oversight commission.
Click here to view the entire Tranportation Reform Act.
Nossaman’s 30-plus infrastructure attorneys offer clients, colleagues, strategic partners and industry media a wealth of practical experience, insider insight and thoughtful analysis here on Infra Insight. We blog about what we know best, from industry-leading procurements to local and national policy developments that affect the market and our clients.
Stay Connected
RSS Feed
Categories
- Airports
- Alternative Project Delivery
- Bridges
- California Environmental Quality Act
- Cybersecurity
- Design-Build
- Financing
- High-Speed Rail
- Job Opening
- Legislation
- News
- P3s
- Policy
- Ports
- Rail and Transit
- Social Infrastructure
- Tollroads/ Turnpikes/ Managed Lanes
- Transportation Infrastructure
- Tunnels
- Water