Texas' Grand Parkway Project Recognized as 2016 National Public-Private Partnership Award Winner

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Jul 07, 2016, 08:02 ET

HOUSTON, July 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Council for Public-Private Partnerships (NCPPP), the leading association in the field, has announced that the Grand Parkway Project in Houston, Texas, is a 2016 National Public-Private Partnership Award winner in the Infrastructure Project category.

The Grand Parkway Project in Houston, Texas, is a 2016 National Public-Private Partnership Award winner in the Infrastructure Project category.

The Grand Parkway, which is expected to be fully completed in future years, is a 184-mile highway forming an outer loop around the Houston metropolitan area. Spanning seven counties, the goal of this forward-looking Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) project is to improve connectivity within the existing road network, reduce transportation congestion, enhance mobility and travel options, and support demographic and economic growth in one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in America.

Three of the eleven segments of the Grand Parkway—F-1, F-2 and G—were constructed as part of a single public-private partnership (P3) design-build development agreement between TxDOT/Grand Parkway Transportation Corporation, Zachry-Odebrecht Parkway Builders, with CH2M serving in the general engineering consultant role and Sperry Capital as the bond subcontractor.

This 38-mile section of the Parkway, which opened to traffic in early 2016, is comprised of four-lane, controlled access toll roads with intermittent frontage roads from US 290 to IH69/US59. The P3 design-build contract unified the flow of work from conception to completion for faster delivery, lower costs and better design.

A key success factor was the effective and organized utilization of design, acquisition, bond finance, construction, toll integration and commercial professionals from the public and private sectors to achieve this landmark transportation initiative.

"In 2013, the $2.9-billion bond financing for the Grand Parkway system was the biggest municipal bond sale of the year," said CH2M Project Manager Ilona Hogan. "Less than 1,000 days later we celebrated a successful grand opening built upon the framework of a co-located team that included the public owner, a private development joint venture and a private general engineering consultant."

Congratulations to the TxDOT/Grand Parkway Transportation Corporation, Zachry-Odebrecht Parkway Builders, Sperry Capital and the CH2M team for bringing this landmark transportation vision to life. The Grand Parkway Project, along with the other 2016 National Public-Private Partnership award winners, was honored at a reception in Chicago on June 28, as part of NCPPP's annual conference.

About NCPPP
NCPPP is a non-profit, non-partisan organization founded in 1985. The Council is a forum for the brightest ideas and innovators in the partnership arena. Its growing list of public- and private-sector members, with experience in a wide variety of public-private partnership arrangements, and its diverse training and public education programs represent vital core resources for partnering nationwide. NCPPP members bring an unmatched dedication to providing the most productive and cost-effective public services.

About CH2M
CH2M leads the professional services industry delivering sustainable solutions benefiting societal, environmental and economic outcomes with the development of infrastructure and industry. In this way, CH2Mers make a positive difference providing consulting, design, engineering and management services for clients in water; environment and nuclear; transportation; energy and industrial markets, from iconic infrastructure to global programs like the Olympic Games. Ranked among the World's Most Ethical Companies and top firms in environmental consulting and program management, CH2M in 2016 became the first professional services firm honored with the World Environment Center Gold Medal Award for efforts advancing sustainable development. Connect with CH2M at www.ch2m.com; LinkedIn; Twitter; and Facebook.