Bill to let counties and major cities use P3s for transportation projects reported out of committee

The committee adopted a technical amendment to House Bill 2469 and reported the bill as committed. Staff summarized the bill as authorizing counties and the two largest cities to use public–private partnerships (P3s) for engineering, construction, operation, financing and maintenance of transportation projects, subject to approval by the statewide P3 board.

Representative Lindsey Powell, the bill’s prime sponsor, told the committee the tool allows for risk sharing, accelerates project delivery and can be a more cost‑effective model to get transportation projects done. "It accelerates the project deliveries and overall, is a more cost effective model to get transportation projects done," Representative Lindsey Powell said.

Staff noted that current state law allows only Commonwealth agencies and certain local authorities that own transportation facilities to use P3s; HB 2469 would expand eligibility to all counties and to the cities of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Amendment A03152 made technical corrections, was requested by the administration and agreed to by the prime sponsor; the committee adopted the amendment with no negative votes and reported the bill as committed.

The committee action forwards the bill for further consideration.