Maryland’s brief, yet troubled history with transportation public-private partnerships did not deter the state’s second-largest school system from adopting the delivery method for a major facility construction program that will be one of the largest in the U.S.

The Prince George’s County Board of Education on Oct. 21 overwhelmingly approved a proposal for a six-school, $1.2 billion construction program to be led by a design-build-operate-maintain team that includes Fengate Capital Management Ltd., Gilbane Development Co. Inc., and Gilbane Building Co. Stantec will serve as lead designer, with Honeywell providing maintenance and operations services.