Infrastructure is the bread and butter of government, covering everything from pipes that carry our water to bridges that make our commutes possible.
In Maryland, ours is in mediocre shape. The American Society of Civil Engineers gives Maryland’s infrastructure a C grade, and there’s just not enough tax dollars around to improve it.
So as construction costs rise and traditional funding sources like the gas tax dwindle, the state is looking for new ways to build.
Public-Private Partnerships, or P3s, are one way to accelerate these projects. In this episode of Maryland Now, hosts Dori Henry, Josh Kurtz, and David Nitkin dive into the complex world P3s. Experts discuss whether these deals are a panacea for the state’s building woes or a necessary evil that requires caution.
Featured sources
- Michael Sakata, President and CEO of the Maryland Transportation Builders and Materials Association
- Dr. Jonathan Gifford, Director of the Center for Transportation Public-Private Partnership Policy at George Mason University
- Marshall Macomber, Chief of Innovative Finance and Delivery, Maryland Department of Transportation
- Jaclyn Hartman, Assistant Secretary of Transportation Investments, Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT)
- Brad Frome, Partner at Rise Investment Partners
Covered topics
- The “C” Grade: Why Maryland’s infrastructure is struggling and why the traditional way of paying for roads and bridges is breaking down.
- Beyond the Purple Line: Moving past the headlines to understand how P3s work and the challenges with this particular project.
- Success Stories: How the P3 model has been used to fast-track a “bundle” of new schools in Prince George’s County and manage the Port of Baltimore.
- The Maintenance Guarantee: Why the most valuable part of a P3 might not be the initial construction, but the decades of guaranteed upkeep that follows.
Previous episodes
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Maryland Now is brought to you by Blended Public Affairs and produced by Carper Cre8tive.
