Potential Economic Benefits of Public-Private Partnership (P3s) on Reclaimed Mine Sites in the Construction of the I-73/74 NHS Corridor

摘要

A public private partnership (PPP or P3), according to the FHWA, is a contractual agreement between a public agency and a private entity for private sector participation in the delivery of transportation projects. One of the most innovative aspects of the KCH is the P3's which have developed and continue to develop. These consist of using surface mine sites as locations for portions of the KCH roadbed. Under this form of P3, after extraction of the coal by surface mining, instead of returning the property to as near as possible its original contour, the mining company agrees to build a section of rough roadbed. When completed, the roadbed will be turned over to the WVDOT for further development. Further, the company which extracted the coal proceeds as a construction company to build the rough road bed on adjacent property. The coal company is allowed to remove all coal located within the right of way. The sale of the coal extracted is used to reduce the cost to the public sector of building the roadbed. This project examines the potential for the expansion of P3 in the construction of the KCH. The analysis also includes an estimation of the possible economic benefits of using P3's along the route of the KCH and the economic development which could result.