By Kevin Pula
Four legislative leaders in transportation traveled to Washington, D.C., last week to provide a legislative prospective at the American Road and Transportation Builders of America’s (ARTBA) 2015 P3 Conference.
(Pictured from left) Representative Leslie Combs (D-Ky.), Delegate Tom Rust (R-Va.), Representative Max Tyler (D-Colo.) and Representative Ed Soliday (R-Ind.) participated in a pair of panels during the ARTBA hosted event.
Three of the lawmakers joined Rich Juliano, senior vice president for Strategic Initiatives at ARTBA, for a conversation regarding transportation funding initiatives in their states at a Transportation Funding Workshop. The discussion highlighted the various needs among the states regarding transportation funding as well as some of the hurdles to passing new legislation.
The audience learned about motor fuel tax changes in Kentucky, the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) and a failed bond bill in Colorado, and a new transportation funding analysis tool commissioned by the Indiana Legislature.
The lawmakers were also involved in a more targeted discussion on public-private partnerships (P3s). Joined on stage by Matt Girard, COO of Plenary Concessions and ARTBA’s P3 Division president, the legislators provided insight into the benefits and limitations of P3s in their states. Each state represented has a slightly different experience with P3s, ranging from the current debate surrounding P3 enabling legislation in Kentucky to the recent 20-year anniversary of Virginia’s Public-Private Transportation Act of 1995. Also discussed was the Indiana Tollway and Colorado’s current US 36 Express Lanes Project.
You can find more information about the P3 Conference and see the agenda.
Learn more about the details of the Transportation Funding Workshop.
For additional information or assistance with finding NCSL materials on transportation funding and finance, contact Kevin Pula at NCSL or visit our Transportation Funding and Finance webpage.
Kevin Pula is a policy associate with the Transportation Program at NCSL.
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