Overview
Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are contractual agreements, formed between a public agency and private sector entity, which expand on the traditional, private sector role in the delivery of transportation projects.

This section of the FHWA PPP website identifies and defines the more common PPP structures. There are many different PPP options, and the exact combination of services and responsibilities differs from one application to another. Traditionally, private sector participation in surface transportation projects has been limited to separate planning, design or construction contracts.

The PPP arrangements defined here show the ways in which private sector responsibilities can be expanded through the use of partnerships. PPP options expand across a spectrum of increased private responsibilities, and range from transferring tasks normally done in house to the private sector, to combining typically separate services into a single procurement or having private sector partners assume owner-like roles.

The diagram above depicts how the range of responsibilities shifts from the public sector to the private sector with different PPP options. Select any PPP option from the diagram to obtain more information.