Second National Conference on Transportation Finance

Approximately 500 people assembled for this Second National Conference on Transportation Finance, which featured fresh information on (a) legislative developments since the 1998 enactment of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, (b) the implementation of state and local programs that did not even exist at the time of the first conference (April 1997), and (c) matters for consideration in the 2003 reauthorization of the nation's highway and transit programs. In addition, this conference included sessions devoted specifically to the intersection of finance and technology, especially the potential for wireless and scanning technologies to provide new opportunities for generating revenues and new partnerships between the public and private sectors. The conference program was designed not only to have speakers impart information but also to provide time for participants to share information. Thus, the heart of the conference was a series of 12 special topics sessions. These sessions addressed a broad range of subjects, from approaches to measuring the costs and benefits of selected financing strategies to real-world examples of public-private partnerships, with contracts and franchise agreements that may include not only design and construction services but also financing, operations, and maintenance. The proceedings are organized as follows: Conference Findings; Summary; Overviews of Current Status and Future Trends; Special Topics; Innovative Finance Beyond the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century; Synthesis; Resource Papers; Glossary and Acronyms; Committee Member Biographical Information; and a List of Participants.