AASHTO Journal, 16 October 2015
AASHTO’s new “BATIC Institute” – an educational office designed to help state departments of transportation and other industry participants consider options to finance their infrastructure projects – is taking registrations for its inaugural webinar on Nov. 4 about the Pennsylvania DOTs Rapid Bridge Replacement Project.
The Institute, which will offer both online and in-person training over time, takes its name from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s recently announced Build America Transportation Investment Center.
The BATIC Institute also launched a new web site that gives more information about its plans, a signup link for announcements and includes a brief survey to gather information that will shape its future offerings.
“With this specialized website, online training, and peer-to-peer exchanges the Institute will deliver the types of services and information our state departments of transportation need to examine all of their options,” said Jennifer Brickett, the Institute director.
The initial webinar examines the PennDOT project that uses an innovative public-private partnership to replace 558 structurally deficient bridges throughout the state in just three years. Normally, it could take many more years to replace that many bridges under traditional state funding arrangements.
The webinar signup page said the Nov. 4 program will review the project’s financing, PennDOT’s decision to pursue a P3, its experience navigating federal processes, and the procurement and oversight process. The program will include video clips featuring information from key project officials, and a live 20-minute question/answer period.
