Numerous ACEC/Michigan member firms spent an important day in Lansing on Tuesday to represent the association and lend its support to important legislation being considered in the state legislature regarding public-private partnerships.

 

ACEC/M members participated in a joint hearing of the House and Senate Transportation committees, which also included members of the powerful Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation.

 

ACEC/Michigan Executive Director Ron Brenke was pleased with the show of support of members as well as the turnout of many of our partner groups.

 

“With more than 100 people filling the committee room, you can see that this is a very important issue to all parties involved, from engineers and architects to road workers and administrators,” Brenke said. “The committee members asked some very relevant questions that we hope will help spark even more dialogue in Lansing and lead to positive movement on the vital issues of transportation funding and public-private partnerships.”

 

The committee focused its discussion on legislation (HB 4961), which would enable Michigan, specifically MDOT, to engage in public-private partnership agreements “relating to researching, planning, studying, designing, developing, financing, acquiring, constructing, tolling, operating, or maintaining a public-private transportation facility.”

 

The P3 bill is part of a larger 14-bill package that includes legislation to increase funding for transportation projects.

 

Testifying before the committee were three national transportation experts: Karen Hedlund, Chief Counsel of the Federal Highway Administration; Joe Aiello, of Meridiam, a leader in the development of large-scale infrastructure projects throughout the country; and James Ray, of Ray Strategies, and former FHWA Chief Counsel.

 

Earlier in the day, Ray and Aiello (pictured) also participated in a media roundtable, taking questions on P3 issues.

 

For more information Contact: ACEC