An Odyssey of Privatizing Highways
- 1 April 2001
- journal article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Public Works Management & Policy
- Vol. 5 (4) , 259-269
- https://doi.org/10.1177/1087724x0154001
Abstract
Privatization of infrastructure systems has become politically fashionable. This is a story about a California experiment using a public-private partnership to develop and operate a private tollway in the median of State Route 91 in Orange County. The partnership began with apparent success, yet the private partner (California Private Transportation Corporation) soon filed suit against the public partner (the California State Transportation Department, or Caltrans) for violation of the “noncompete clause” of the original agreement. Although an out-of-court settlement agreement was eventually reached, there is still discussion about selling the private assets. In this commentary, privatization concepts are presented, and the following questions are discussed: Can toll and free lanes compete for traffic or “business”? Is the public interest served by a profit-making private tollway? Would a public or nonprofit agency be a better steward of tollway assets?Keywords
This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit:
- Privatizing Municipal Water and Wastewater SystemsPublic Works Management & Policy, 2000
- Defining PrivatizationPublic Works Management & Policy, 1999
- Defining PrivatizationPublic Works Management & Policy, 1999
- Private Toll Roads: Changing the Highway ParadigmPublic Works Management & Policy, 1998
- Private Toll Roads; is the Glass One-Quarter Full or Three-Quarters Empty?Public Works Management & Policy, 1998