Public-private transportation partnerships approved

Senators passed a bill April 12 to allow for certain public-private partnerships for transportation projects in Nebraska.

LB1016, introduced by Fremont Sen. Lynne Walz, allows the state Department of Transportation to enter into certain public-private partnerships for construction or financing of capital projects or procurement of services under the Transportation Innovation Act.

Eligible projects may include the accelerated completion of improvements and expansion projects on the Nebraska segments of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, highway resurfacing and the accelerated completion of the state expressway system.

A contractor may utilize the progressive design-build method — a public-private contracting method for purposes of project delivery — in addition to the design-build or construction manager general contractor method.

Under LB1016, progressive design-build contracts must include consideration of a builder’s history of costs and expenses when bidding and completing projects, regardless of the process used.

The bill passed 44-0.