"Harnessing the innovation and efficiency of the private sector is the whole point," he adds. "The flip side is protecting the public interest. If you develop structures that encourage good ideas and that encourages creativity, the public sector can learn from that."

Norman Anderson, president and CEO of CG/LA Infrastructure Inc., a consulting firm dedicated to infrastructure creation, cautions against overemphasizing the private versus public roles. "We need a vibrant, strategic, well-remunerated public sector. Otherwise, it is hard to convince the private sector to take the risk you need them to take," he says. "But we in the U.S. don't see that. If you decide that only the private sector is good, then the public-sector focus on creating public values, common spaces—that disappears."

The vibrancy and strategy of the U.S. public sector is in question. "The fact is that there is no national vision," says Brustlin. Aside from the gridlock in Congress preventing a multiyear transportation bill, many question the efficiency of the public transportation funds that are being spent.

"Even if we increased spending, we're not necessarily increasing effective investments," says Eno's Schank. "In many urban areas, we continue to invest in free roads. We're not making strategic freight investments on a national basis." MAP-21 made some strides in improvement, with greater focus on performance measures and corridor-based goals, he adds.

In the same way, some criticize the TIGER grant program, with one bridge industry insider calling it "a political slush fund" that gives grants to projects with questionable return on investment, as opposed to bringing bread-and-butter bridges up to a state of good repair. He also questioned the funding of research and development, rather than actual technology implementation.

MENDEZ

Victor Mendez, acting deputy secretary of the U.S. Dept. of  Transportation, says the Federal Highway Adminstration, which he previously administered, is trying to speed up the implementation, pointing to the "Every Day Counts" program that solicits innovative solutions. "I know sometimes [the federal government] doesn't have all the answers," he says. "We made this program flexible and called it a state-based initiative. This is not business as usual. We're truly looking for ways to get better."

The program, which is about to solicit a third round of innovative ideas, promotes both efficient methods, such as design-build and CM-at-risk, as well as material solutions, such as warm-mix asphalt, intelligent compaction and prefabricated bridge elements. "One of the next elements in construction will be the use of telematics," Mendez adds. "Once we start moving in that direction and making it more widely available, you'll see another ramping up in efficiency."

Digital Dominance

BIM and virtual design and construction (VDC) for project delivery has exploded in use to 71% today from 28% in 2007, says Jay Mezher, director of VDC for Parsons Brinckerhoff. "Now we're taking it to the next level: cloud computing. Cloud servers are providing instant access, including mobile devices. That's the big trend. It's impacting how projects are communicated and delivered. It's evolving so fast that agencies are trying hard to keep up with updating their standards."

This evolution is "concurrent with the next generation of transportation agency staffers," notes Gary Adams, executive vice president with Parsons Corp. "It's new thinking, a new generation. Technology is facilitating this in a big way."

Technology and the so-called millennial generation also are influencing the increased emphasis on corridors rather than modes and, through those corridors, facilitating efficient flow rather than expanding capacity. "It's about managing mobility, not just assets," says Art Guzzetti, vice president of policy with the American Public Transportation Association. "It's also about how to shape a community."