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[CNJRoss]

USDOT news release:

 

U.S. Department of Transportation Announces Proposed Rule to Streamline Private Sector Involvement in Transit Projects

 

 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (U.S. DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced a proposal to facilitate public-private partnerships in public transportation.

 

The newly proposed Private Investment Project Procedures (PIPP) for public transportation capital projects will help the federal government develop more effective approaches to spurring private participation and investment in areas such as project planning, development, finance, design, construction, maintenance, and operations.

 

As detailed in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), recipients of Federal funding for public transportation projects would be allowed to identify specific FTA regulations, practices, procedures or guidance documents that may be an impediment to the use of a public-private partnership (P3) or private investment in that project.

 

“One of the Trump Administration’s priorities is to allow private sector resources and expertise to help rebuild America’s infrastructure,” said U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao. “This proposal will help us better understand the ways that unnecessary procedures may get in the way of building the best projects possible at the lowest cost to the public.”

 

Under the proposed PIPP system, recipients of Federal assistance would be able to apply to FTA to request modification or waiver of specific FTA requirements if the recipient demonstrates that those requirements discourage the use of public-private partnerships. The FTA Administrator would then have discretion to grant a modification or waiver of a requirement if certain criteria are met.

 

However, the PIPP could not be used to waive any requirement under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) or any other provision of Federal statute.

 

“As more public transportation project sponsors find willing and able private partners, we must ensure that federal regulations or procedures do not stifle innovation,” said FTA Executive Director Matthew Welbes. “FTA’s Private Investment Project Procedures will help us maintain procedures that are truly beneficial while allowing for discretion to waive those that simply impede good projects.”

FTA will accept public comments on the NPRM until September 29, 2017.

 

 

[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading, 8/1/17:

 

FTA proposes rule to encourage private investment in transit projects

 

 

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) yesterday announced a proposal that would make it easier for public-private partnerships to be formed in public transportation projects.

The proposed Private Investment Project Procedures for public transportation capital projects will help the federal government develop "more effective approaches" to spurring private participation and investment in project planning, development, finance, design, construction, maintenance and operation, according to an FTA press release.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

USDOT/FTA news release 6/5/18:

Federal Transit Administration issues the Private Investment Procedures (PIPP) Final Rule

 

 

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (U.S. DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued the Private Investment Project Procedures (PIPP) Final Rule that describes new procedures aimed at helping the federal government develop more effective approaches to spurring private participation and investment in project planning, development, finance, design, construction, maintenance, and operations.

 

There are numerous opportunities where the private sector can engage in the public transportation industry, ranging from private operators participating in the planning and transportation improvement program process to a public-private partnership, in which a private firm participates in the design, building, finance, operation, and maintenance aspects of a transit facility. Other examples of private sector participation include Joint Development, Capital Leasing, and Third Party Contracting.

 

PIPP allows grantees the ability to identify FTA regulations, practices, procedures or guidance that may impede the use of a public-private partnership (P3) or private investment in that project. The FTA Administrator would have discretion to grant a modification or waiver of a requirement if certain criteria are met. PIPP could not be used to waive any requirement under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) or any other provision of Federal statute.