Understanding Partner Types in Transit Public-Private Partnerships: A Case Study Approach

Through explanatory case studies, this research seeks to understand how shifts toward privatization in the provision of public services since 1970 have led certain cities and regions to arrive at different types of transit public-private partnerships. Phase one of the research began with a scan of transit public-private partnerships in the United States using publicly available information from transit agency and government websites; public-private partnership databases; print and online documents such as academic manuscripts, government reports, and meeting minutes; and web resources such as news articles and reputable blogs. Data collection for phase two consisted of semi-structured interviews with relevant stakeholders, additional written materials from online sources, archival records, and documents shared by interview subjects that are not available to the public. Interview subjects revealed new information about behind-the-scenes collaborations among project actors. While previous studies of public-private partnerships assume a dichotomy (either public or private), the data supports the use of four categories that further delineate among elites and the professional-managerial class in the public and private sectors. This research proposes a typology of planned and pragmatic partnerships. The study also contributes a new classification of partners who organize themselves within the confines of a public-private partnership model to achieve neoliberal economic development goals by implementing new transit services. This classification underscores the multifaceted nature of public-private partnerships, involving a network of interconnected relationships spanning political, economic, and social spheres. Data presented in this study may prompt broader research into the role of public management, neoliberalism, and New Public Management in shaping transportation policies and practices.