Today, I start my series of posts on "PPP/P3 LEGISLATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ONE STATE, ONE POST". The first state will be Alabama, I've tried to recopilate some important facts and the I continue with two proposed projects that could be affected by the new legislation.Alabama's House of Representatives approved legislation on February 12 to create a new state body responsible for studying construction of new roads and bridges, collect tolls, and enter into public private partnerships (PPP/P3) agreements.The Alabama Toll, Road, Bridge, and Tunnel Authority (ATRBT) will consequently be able to "enter into contracts, agreements, or understandings with other private parties; public or private partnerships". "These partnerships include design-build-own-operate contracts, design-build-own-operate-maintain contracts, or other similar arrangements".And what it is more creative, ATRBT will also be able to implement shadow toll projects financed via availability payments, to issue bonds to finance projects and to lease assets and enter into concession agreements when deemed appropriate.In case the new legislation passes, two projects would be studied:US-280 ELEVATED LINES Alabama Department of Transportation officials have considered several cost pro­posals to build five miles of elevated lanes on U.S. 280 in Shelby County, but the cost has been too prohibitive for the state to consider.Transportation officials say with private funding, the pro­ject could be tolled, built quicker and be less costly.In 2005 Governor Riley pushed for ALDOT's hiring of Figg Engi­neering Group of Tallahassee to get public opinion about elevated lanes along U.S. 280 from Double Oak Mountain to the Elton B. Stephens Expressway.While ALDOT supports the project, Preconstruction engineer Lance Taylor said he has no idea how quickly the project might happen."The study should be completed by summer. It's a several-months process," he said. "We'll have that information, send that to our director and senior engineer, and at that point they'll make the decision as to what options we need to consider and if it's a feasible process."WEST ALABAMA FREEWAYA four-lane road connecting Mobile to Florence, the so-called West Alabama toll road. The road has been planned since 1993. Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom Jr. proposed a commission appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the House.Folsom appears to be the person pushing for its construction. He released a preliminary study in October that showed the proposed 320-mile, north-south freeway would cost $5.3 billion."It certainly is a feasible project when compared with other public-private projects," Folsom said. "The commission report will keep the focus on the public-private partnership in the state."Four international compa­nies have been contacting Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) for the chance to own or manage proposed toll facilities. Com­panies making inquiries in­clude the United Bank of Switzerland, Citigroup, Macquarie of Australia and Cin­tra of Spain.Further reading:Alabama legislators push bills to expedite toll road construction, U.S. 280 elevated lanes.Elevated lanes a possibility on Highway 280Shoals-Mobile road steps closer to realityThis post is part of a series on PPP/P3 LEGISLATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ONE STATE, ONE POST. Next in the series we'll be looking at PPP legislation in Ohio.If you want to know more about this, remember, subscribe via email!Thanks.