In Phoenix, Women of Transportation Survey the Landscape
In a land of pink stucco, palms and countless bottles of water, scores of the nations top women transportation officialsand their male compatriotsgathered last month to talk business. The site was Phoenix, where appropriately enough highway and light rail construction plans are going like gangbusters.
In a somewhat over-air-conditioned Scottsdale conference room, Ann Warner, an official with Bechtel Infrastructure Group, predicted that states will likely have more access to GARVEE bonds, TIFIA loans, toll roads and public-private partnershipsaffectionately known as PPPwhen the transportation reauthorization bill finally passes. Language in the Senate bill will allow for extra money for the PPP approach and would clarify design-buildthere is confusion in the current bill about allowing the procurement process to move before the environmental impact statement, she noted.