Federal loans. Privatization. Public-private partnerships. Devolution.
The public infrastructure industry is so vast, so complex that it has its own nomenclature and is the source of a never-ending debate over how to deliver the best projects to taxpayers for the least tax money.
This toolkit is intended to make it easy for you to get the information you need to understand the various models used to finance public projects.
Click below and you’ll go directly to the relevant section.
Buzzwords
Glossary of Infrastructure Terms
Infographics
The Interstate System by the Numbers
A look at the history, scope and cost of the United States’ highway system over the last century.
Utah's outsourcing tripled costs of keeping work in-house
Replacing two engineering contractors with two state hires would save Utah taxpayers about $1.9 million over four years.Featured in How outsourcing highway jobs drained money from Utah’s roads
Utah: State shed highway staff, despite budget that allowed hiring
The state became more and more dependent on expensive outsourcing, according to a 2016 audit.Featured in How outsourcing highway jobs drained money from Utah’s roads
Utah DOT Temps Worked up to 10 Years for State
Auditors observed that many contractors had no experience and needed to be trained just like new employees. At the other end of the spectrum, some contractors had been around for years. In one instance, a contract engineer had been working at 90 percent of full time or more for a decade.Featured in How outsourcing highway jobs drained money from Utah’s roads