This paper describes the transport demonstration projects made possible by California Assembly Bill 680 (AB680), enacted by the State of California, USA, in July 1989. AB680 authorised the California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) to enter into franchise arrangement with private enterprises to develop up to four demonstration projects, at least one in the north and one in the south, which would provide significant transport benefits to their users. The State would own each such facility at all times, but be empowered to lease it to its developer for up to 35 years. Each operator would be a private consortium of developers, engineering/design firms, financial advisers, toll firms and law firms, and be entitled to set, collect and retain reasonable tolls. Each project had to conform with all federal, state and local standards and laws. Bids were invited for the projects, and weighted criteria were formulated for selecting the winners: (1) proposed transport service (20 points); (2) socio-economic benefits (10); (3) degree of local support (15); (4) relative ease of implementation (15); (5) relative experience and expertise of sponsors (15); (6) degree of support for California's energy conservation goals (10); (7) degree to which non-toll revenues support proposal cost (15); (8) degree of technical innovation (10); (9) degree of support for US civil rights goals (10). The four highway projects, finally selected by CALTRANS, were announced on 15 September 1990.
Abstract