Transportation megaproject procurement : benefits and challenges for PPPs and alternative delivery strategies, and the resulting implications for Crossrail

Abstract

This thesis evaluates the applicability of public-private partnerships (PPPs) and alternative delivery strategies to transportation megaprojects. There has been tremendous expansion of innovative procurement and financing mechanisms in this area. However, there are still many hurdles to overcome before these options can penetrate the transportation market with any regularity. The thesis identifies the barriers and their origins, and suggests changes to policy and institutional frameworks that may be incorporated to encourage a broader range of delivery options. There is potentially much to be gained from increased private sector involvement in transportation megaproject delivery, but it requires significant investment of public sector time and money at the outset to be able to identify the most appropriate course of action. The public and private sectors often have diverging short-term versus long-term interests that must be reconciled if PPPs are to provide improved outcomes. The thesis introduces the various stages of megaproject development and the way public and private sector strengths may be packaged together throughout these stages to form alternative delivery strategies. It also provides an assessment of the many issues surrounding the business case, risk, management, and contracts. These issues are later revisited in an evaluation of several projects in the U.S. that have utilized "traditional" and alternative delivery strategies in the past. Included in this assessment are two larger case studies: Boston's Big Dig and Puerto Rico's Tren Urbano.

(cont.) Each incurred both successes and failures as a result of the traditional delivery strategy in Boston and the alternative delivery strategy in Puerto Rico, respectively. The research provides guidance to Transport for London (TfL) as TfL proceeds with delivery of Crossrail; a large-scale rail initiative in the greater London region. As part of its preliminary analysis in advance of Crossrail, TfL has sought input from around the world on experiences with unconventional megaproject delivery. To that end, this thesis provides context from North America. Yet the majority of the conclusions and recommendations are intentionally broad so as to have relevance not only for TfL, but for any public sector agency considering experimentation with alternative delivery strategies for transportation megaprojects.