Volpe Center: Transportation Strategic Plans

Public/Private Partnerships: Implications for Innovation in Transportation

Executive Summary

The national interest has always been closely tied to the progress of science and technology. Today, market globalization, increased competition, environmental concerns, and public health imperatives demand continued investment in the development and commercialization of new technology.

This report provides an assessment of public/private partnerships, the challenges they face, and their potential within the nation's transportation system. Included are examples that highlight activities in various transportation modes and the lessons they demonstrate. The report draws the following conclusions:

Public/private partnerships in transportation have had modest success as compared to other public policy agendas.
The success of these partnerships is limited by factors such as divergent motivations, limited resources, evolving legal constraints, and changing agendas among participants. Preventive strategies that minimize the impact of these challenges are needed.
In order for transportation-related partnerships to achieve a fuller potential, additional efforts are needed to leverage existing research and development investments and build new ones, possibly as part of the overall R&D investment environment.

This report will support decision makers in the public, private, non-profit, and academic sectors as they examine and develop opportunities for public/private partnership in transportation and other related fields.

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Public/Private Partnerships