House panel cites role of P3 in infrastructure rehab

Public-private partnerships (P3) can play a critical and pivotal role in the rehabilitation and expansion of U.S. infrastructure across all major sectors, including transportation, water, public buildings, and maritime, according to a recent report prepared by a panel of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “Billions of dollars of infrastructure needs in the U.S. are in search of funding, and well-executed public-private partnerships can enhance the delivery and management of infrastructure,” said Rep. John Duncan (R-TN), vice chairman of the committee and head of its P3 Panel. “P3s cannot provide the sole solution to all of the nation’s infrastructure needs, but they can offer significant benefits, particularly for high-cost, technically complex projects that otherwise may risk dying on the vine.” The National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) praised the report and in particular welcomed its recommendation that federal limitations on tax-exempt bonds for public-private water and wastewater projects “be removed to give municipalities certainty that private activity bonds are available for innovative water projects.”