US 36 Express Lanes commended for superior service

The US 36 Express Lanes project has been recognized for outstanding delivery improvements, winning the Service Project Award at the 2017 National Public-Private Partnership Awards.

The awards, presented by the National Council for Public-Private Partnerships (NCPPP), recognize projects and organizations across the US that are leaders or innovators in the implementation of public-private partnerships.

The project is one of the nation’s first transportation corridors designed to accommodate a variety of transportation modes, including general and managed lanes, bus rapid transit, bicycling, and walking.

It has drastically improved the US 36 corridor connecting the cities of Boulder, Louisville, Broomfield, Westminster and Denver and communities in between.

Plenary Vice President, Operations and Asset Management, Christian Guevara commended the Plenary Roads Denver consortium and their partnership with Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).

“The success we’ve seen throughout the US 36 Express Lanes project serves as a testament to the foresight of the members of this PPP with CDOT, HPTE, RTD and Plenary Roads Denver,” Mr Guevara said.

“This partnership has not only allowed for greater private sector participation in the delivery, financing and maintenance of US 36 Express Lanes, but also provides efficient and multiple travel options to the thousands of people who rely on the US 36 corridor every day.

“Commuters throughout the corridor can now ride the bus, carpool, pay a toll, bike or use the free general-purpose lanes. By offering these choices the US 36 Express Lanes minimize congestion, reduce delays and keep travel time in the express lanes reliable.”

NCPPP President Sandy Hoe said the awards recognize those organizations and individuals that advance the concept and implementation of public-private partnerships across the country.

“We are proud to recognize innovators and leaders whose work serves as exemplary partnership models, particularly at a time when P3s are taking on a more prominent role in the United States,” Mr Hoe said.

The NCPPP also noted the project has resulted in a more efficient, well-maintained transportation corridor, 20 years sooner than planned.

This is the US 36 project’s fourth award since construction started in 2015, recently receiving a technology innovation award at the American Transportation Awards.

Plenary Roads Denver – comprising Plenary, Colorado High Performance Transportation Enterprise, Ames Construction/Granite Construction Company Joint Venture, HDR Engineering and Goldman Sachs – is contracted to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the project for 50 years.