The seven-member Pennsylvania Public Private Transportation Partnership (P3) Board was created pursuant to Act 88 of 2012, the Public and Private Partnerships for Transportation Act. The P3 Board is to examine and approve potential public private transportation projects. Earlier this month the P3 Board approved a project soliciting private sector proposals to manage and operate PennDOT’s 511 system (511PA), as well as the Turnpike’s Roadway Information Program (TRIP).
In operation since 2009, 511PA provides traffic-delay warnings, weather forecasts, average traffic speeds on urban interstates and access to more than 670 traffic cameras. The system’s website provides color-coded winter road conditions for all interstates and other routes covered in the 511 reporting network. TRIP, the Turnpike’s own information system, provides traffic and weather information.
The P3 Board also approved soliciting proposals on: traffic-flow data; video sharing; staffing and managing a statewide traffic management center and regional traffic management center near Clearfield; enhancing and managing PennDOT’s road weather information systems; administering the outdoor advertising program; sponsorship opportunities at Pennsylvania Welcome Centers and rest areas; sponsorship of PennDOT’s freeway service patrols; managing PennDOT’s “sponsor a highway” program; and sponsoring PennDOT’s yellow dot program.
PennDOT will explore possible public private partnership opportunities in all of these programs, but a decision on whether to enter into any contractual agreement on any or all will only be determined after a review of proposals submitted through a competitive procurement process.