David J. Hatem, PC led a discussion focusing on the risks for design professionals associated with the public-private approach. Public-Private Partnerships operate by definition, only in the Public Sector construction project context, and primarily utilizes the Design-Build Delivery Method. To date, Public-Private Partnerships have been legislatively authorized by 23 states. Late last year, the Pioneer Institute issued a study addressing potential use of public-private partnerships in Massachusetts and on February 24, 2009, Governor Deval Patrick filed "An Act to Reform, Rebuild, and Renew the Transportation System of the Commonwealth for the Twenty-First Century" with the Massachusetts Senate and House of Representatives, proposing use of PPPs on state projects.

Public-Private Partnerships pose both opportunities and risks for design professionals. In these challenging economic times, more states are aggressively investigating the potential for PPPs and the Federal Government is encouraging PPPs for federally-funded transportation projects. This session also addressed the impact of the federal stimulus legislation on PPPs.