Supporters and critics of plans to have the private sector play a large role in running major public highways are squaring off.
Among the most vocal critics of public-private partnerships are House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) and highways subcommittee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.). They threw the first punch May 10 in a letter to governors, warning them “against rushing into PPPs that do not fully protect the public interest....”