If your child brought home a report card with a C average, you’d likely be underwhelmed. But a C average is what the American Society of Civil Engineers gives Maryland’s infrastructure, and they have some suggestions for how to improve. Infrastructure is the "bread and butter" of government—covering everything from the water in your pipes to the bridges on your commute—but as construction costs rise and traditional funding sources like the gas tax dwindle, the state is looking for new ways to build.

In this episode, hosts Dori Henry, Josh Kurtz, and David Nitkin dive into the complex and often debated world of Public-Private Partnerships, or P3s. They spoke to some experts to discuss whether these deals are a "panacea" for the state's building woes or a "necessary evil" that requires caution.

Featured in the episode:

• Michael Sakata, President and CEO of the Maryland Transportation Builders and Materials Association
• Dr. Jonathan Gifford, Director of the Center for Transportation Public-Private Partnership Policy at George Mason University
• Marshall Macomber, Chief of Innovative Finance and Delivery, Maryland Department of Transportation
• Jaclyn Hartman, Assistant Secretary of Transportation Investments, Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT)
• Brad Frome, Partner at Rise Investment Partners

What We Discuss:

• The "C" Grade: Why Maryland’s infrastructure is struggling and why the traditional way of paying for roads and bridges is breaking down.
• Beyond the Purple Line: Moving past the headlines to understand how P3s work and the challenges with this particular project.
• Success Stories: How the P3 model has been used to fast-track a "bundle" of new schools in Prince George’s County and manage the Port of Baltimore.
• The Maintenance Guarantee: Why the most valuable part of a P3 might not be the initial construction, but the thirty years of guaranteed upkeep that follows.

Connect With the Show:  Questions, comments, or story ideas marylandnow@blendedpublicaffairs.com 

Maryland Now is brought to you by Blended Public Affairs and produced by Carper Cre8tive.

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• (00:00) - C Grade Wake Up Call
• (00:38) - Why P3s Matter
• (02:46) - School Construction Spark
• (04:29) - Risks And Skepticism
• (05:25) - Maryland Infrastructure Report
• (07:52) - Funding Model Breakdown
• (10:52) - What A P3 Is
• (13:01) - Maryland P3 Examples
• (16:25) - Purple Line Case Study
• (20:24) - PG County School P3
• (24:11) - Maintenance And Value
• (25:19) - Wrap Up And Takeaways