An Integrated Framework to Improve Public Involvement in Public-Private Partnerships

Original study by Eric J. Boyer, Can Chen and John Clayton Thomas

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are widely used for major transportation infrastructure projects because they offer a mechanism for governments to build large projects with private financing and long-term private involvement. Yet many PPPs have faced intense public criticism, controversy, and even cancellation. Insufficient information disclosure and weak consultation are frequently cited contributors to these failures, given the institutional characteristics of PPPs, and the inclination for members of the public to form negative opinions of them.

To address these challenges, this article develops a theoretical framework to improve public involvement in PPPs, by aligning different participation modes with the unique informational requirements of PPPs.  The framework is developed from a thorough literature review, drawing from both the study of PPPs and the study of public involvement.  The central finding of the paper is that given the many controversies that result from PPPs in infrastructure delivery, public planners must treat public involvement as an ongoing strategy throughout the course of infrastructure development, rather than a procedural requirement.

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