Bloomberg posts an article on P3s stating, “At their best, these public-private partnerships . . . make infrastructure projects faster and cheaper. At their worst — well, ask Chicago about its parking meters.” The report adds, “Some scholars trace the P3 concept back to the Roman Empire, which gave investors contracts to build and operate postal stations and highways. The U.S. chose a different path: New York State sold bonds to build the Erie Canal in the early 19th century after the federal government refused to provide funds.”
