HANOVER, MD – The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) received three very competitive proposals from highly qualified private sector teams to become the developer responsible for overseeing predevelopment work on Phase 1, the American Legion Bridge I-270 to I-70 Relief Plan, of the I-495 & I-270 Public-Private Partnership (P3) Program. The responses are a clear indication of the significant interest among private investors in partnering with MDOT to deliver a new American Legion Bridge, and innovative options for reducing traffic congestion in the National Capital Region. MDOT will begin its review of the final proposals to select a partner committed to collaborating with community stakeholders and other partners in advancing the American Legion Bridge and I-270 improvements.
“We received three strong proposals from private investors that want to partner with us to provide new travel options and business opportunities for all Marylanders -- bicyclists, pedestrians, buses and carpoolers and truckers,” said Transportation Secretary Greg Slater. “This level of competition gives us the ability to choose the right partner, who can collaborate with us and key stakeholders in the community to deliver the highest value and most innovative design ideas for improved travel options, reduced environmental impacts, new transit connections and direct bike and pedestrian access across a new American Legion Bridge.”
The submission of proposals for this Progressive P3 marks the end of nearly six months of extensive collaborative dialogue with the proposers to ensure a true partnership and harness the innovation of the private sector. Each of the proposers received an initial draft of the Request for Proposals (RFP) in July which began multiple opportunities to share feedback with MDOT as the RFP was refined and each of the teams prepared and refined their proposals over this nearly six-month collaborative process. MDOT and the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) expect to announce a selected proposer in February and will seek to enter into an agreement with one of the teams to begin working closely with MDOT, MDTA and all of our stakeholders on advancing the American Legion Bridge and I-270 improvements.
Selecting a partner for the predevelopment work over the next year allows MDOT to begin working with the developer and all stakeholders on best ways to advance the preliminary design to further avoid and minimize impacts to environmental resources, communities, properties, utilities, and other features by working with Montgomery and Frederick counties, municipalities, property owners, utilities and citizens.
On a parallel track, the I-495 & I-270 Managed Lanes Study will progress with MDOT expected to announce a Recommended Preferred Alternative in the coming months with the study’s federal Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision issued by Fall 2021. There will be no contract submitted to the Board of Public Works (BPW) for the final award to construct managed lanes until the I-495 & I-270 Managed Lanes Study Final Environmental Impact Statement is complete. The earliest that contract would be brought to BPW would be summer 2022, if a build alternative is identified in the Record of Decision. The current solicitation is part of a progressive approach with predevelopment work being completed before taking any construction contract to BPW.
These proposals allow MDOT to select a private-sector partner to work collaboratively with all the stakeholders on the pre-development of the current project phase that is the American Legion Bridge and I-270. After this significant, collaborative effort and only if a build alternative is identified, MDOT would seek approval from BPW for the first Section P3 Agreement, which would be focused on the American Legion Bridge and connecting with our partners in Virginia, to advance final design, construction, financing, operations, and maintenance for 50 years.
Shortlisted teams submitting proposals for Phase 1 include:
Accelerate MarylandExpress Partners
Lead Project Developer/Equity: Itinera Infrastructure & Concessions Inc.
Lead Contractors: Halmar International LLC and Itinera S.p.A
Designers: Atkins North America, Inc. and Gannett Fleming Inc.
Accelerate Maryland Partners LLC
Lead Project Developer / Equity: Transurban (USA) Operations Inc. and Macquarie Infrastructure Developments LLC
Lead Contractor: Transurban and Macquarie
Designers: Dewberry Engineers Inc. and Stantec Consulting Services Inc.
Capital Express Mobility Partners
Lead Project Developer / Equity: Cintra Global SE and John Laing Investments Limited
Lead Contractor: Ferrovial Agroman US Corp.
Designers: AECOM Technical Services Inc. and HNTB Corporation
Editor’s Note
From intersection improvements to widening and new interchange construction, MDOT SHA is investing in projects to enhance the commute and daily travel for millions of Marylanders. MDOT SHA maintains more than 2,500 bridges and 17,000 miles of non-toll state roads – the interstate, US and state numbered routes in Maryland’s 23 counties.
Contact: Terry Owens, 410-903-7454
TOwens4.consultant@mdot.maryland.gov