US states have been assessed on how ready they are to deliver ‘P3’ projects.
A new report designed to encourage lawmakers to speed up the modernisation of American infrastructure has for the first time graded all 50 US states and selected territories according to their readiness to build in partnership with the private sector.
The USA P3 Report Card has been produced by the Global Infrastructure Investor Association (GIIA), the global voice for the world’s leading infrastructure investors and P3 Bulletin, an intelligence provider to the public-private partnerships (P3) sector.
The report card grades all 50 states and selected territories between A and D, for their capability and readiness to act. Criteria include the availability of P3 legislation, the presence of a P3 office and the willingness of public authorities to deploy the P3 model.
Jon Phillips, chief executive of GIIA, said: “We urge governors and officials to compare their states with others and debate how they can improve highways, energy networks, public buildings and water supplies more efficiently, with less burden on taxpayers.
“Many states and cities face huge infrastructure funding gaps that public-private partnerships can help to close. Some are leading the way, some show potential, while others have yet to make significant progress. The P3 Report Card aims to drive a vital discussion about how P3s can play a bigger part in building a stronger America.”
Ten states are ranked as grade A, for their extensive and frequent use of P3s. A further 15 are graded B, based on the extent of their enabling legislation and P3 deployment. 14 states are graded C for a more limited use of P3s and a further 14 are ranked as D-graders for their as yet undeveloped use of the P3 model.
The report card grades all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and territories of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. More details of the report card’s findings and the methodology used to produce it can be found on the P3 Bulletin website.
Grades state-by-state
Grade A: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington State, District of Columbia.
The report card says: “These states have robust, diverse P3 legislation, backed by a strong pipeline of projects. They also have a good track record in delivering projects and are at the forefront of P3 development.”
Grade B: Arizona, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah.
The report card says: “A mix of states, some with strong legislation, others with major P3 projects despite less extensive P3 enablement. They all have in common the potential to push on from where they are today to become the states of greatest opportunity in the future.”
Grade C: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, West Virginia, Puerto Rico.
The report card says: “Often lacking broad P3 enabling legislation, these states have often dabbled in P3 projects without making significant inroads. Some are showing signs of growing their involvement with the model, while others appear content to use P3 in small, targeted ways.”
Grade D: Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming, US Virgin Islands.
The report card says: “These states often have little or no P3 enabling legislation, and few if any have plans to use the model in upcoming projects.”
The report was compiled using a range of questions designed to reveal what each state and territory is delivering and how prepared each is for P3 projects. The questions were followed up with supplementary questions to provide greater depth to the grading assessment and based on the information gained, P3 Bulletin together with GIIA developed a system that assigns each jurisdiction with a grade between A and D.
