Infra Insight Blog : written by Nossaman LLP Infrastructure attorneys, covers infrastructure project delivery, including Public-Private Partnerships, Operations & Management Agreements, policy, and news.

California's first public-private partnership procurement has passed two major hurdles in the last week.  First, after a long anticipated and much-debated hearing, the California Transportation Commission approved the San Francisco Presidio Parkway Project last week on an 8-3 vote.

Second, on May 25, the California Department of Transportation released the draft request for proposals to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Presidio Parkway.  The project, sponsored by Caltrans and the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, is being closely watched because it is the first P3 project under the new Section 143 of the California Streets & Highways Code, which permits Caltrans and regional transportation agencies to work with the private sector in developing transportation facilities in the state (for more about Section 143, see 'California Passes First Significant Transportation PPP Law in 20 Years').

The CTC vote was a topic of discussion at the California Public Infrastructure Advisory Committee meeting this week, which preceded the Public Infrastructure Financing Forum held at the California Science Center in Los Angeles.

Caltrans plans to issue the final RFP on June 29, 2010.

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On April 7, 2010, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) authorized the first two regional design-build projects under the state's innovative contracting authority under Senate Bill 4, SBX2 4. 

• The ExpressLane Project is a joint state/local project of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) and the Department of Transportation (Caltrans), which will be implemented by Caltrans.  The project will convert existing carpool lanes on Interstates 10 and 110 to high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, or ExpressLanes.
   
• The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) SR-91 Corridor Improvement Project is a local transportation entity project slated for implementation by a regional entity.  It will widen State Route 91 with the addition of new freeway lanes, toll/express lanes, expanded freeway-to-freeway connectors and better access to and from the freeway at congested locations.

Other regional transportation agencies will no doubt be encouraged by the CTC’s unanimous approval of these two projects.

SBX2 4, which authorizes alternative contracting for certain projects was approved on February 20, 2009.  The CTC developed its related P3 policy guidance on October 14, 2009. 

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