In 2009, the California legislature amended Section 143 of the Streets and Highways Code and greatly expanded availability of the public-private partnership ("P3") as a mechanism to finance transportation infrastructure projects. In early 2010, under the authority of the newly amended Section 143, the California Department of Transportation ("CalTrans") began to implement part of the Presidio Parkway Project ("Project") as a P3.
The two-phase Project involves replacement of the 75-year-old, seismically-deficient southern approach to the Golden Gate Bridge (also known as Doyle Drive). Phase I (which is currently underway) will be delivered via a traditional design-bid-build model. Phase II, however, is set to be financed and constructed through a P3 contract between CalTrans and its selected bidder, Golden Link Partners.
The process of implementing Phase II as a P3 was attacked on November 2, 2010, when Professional Engineers in California Government (“PECG”) (a union representing state-employed engineers and other professionals) challenged the P3 as violating various provisions of Section 143.
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