On October 11, Nick Nicholson, Deputy Director and Chief Engineer of the District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) Infrastructure Project Management Administration, participated in a panel session at the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) Annual Public-Private Partnerships in Transportation Conference in Washington, D.C.  Mr. Nicholson told conference attendees that DDOT is actively looking at public-private partnerships to deliver several projects in the District of Columbia.  Although the District does not have dedicated P3 legislation typically found in other jurisdictions, Mr. Nicholson indicated that the current framework provides DDOT with the flexibility to enter into P3 agreements with approval from the District Council. 

Mr. Nicholson stated that DDOT will be exploring the possibility of using P3s to construct a managed lanes facility within the District of Columbia boundaries connecting I-395 to the 14th Street Bridge.  Also, DDOT will look at value capture concepts for improving and replacing the area’s bridges.  Currently, DDOT is considering a P3 to deliver a 22-mile streetcar system and non-regional bus system and received 20 responses from the industry to a Request for Information issued on June 26, 2012.