USDOT, Australia partner on transportation funding, technology ideas

Updated Aug 9, 2016

toll roadsThe U.S. Department of Transportation and the Australia Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure are partnering on an information exchange program to collaborate and share strategies on infrastructure investment, technologies and innovation.

Transportation Sec. Anthony Foxx and Australia Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Darren Chester signed a Memorandum of Cooperation August 3 that enables the exchange of information, data and best practices. USDOT says it is specifically looking for details on the use of public-private partnerships (P3), intelligent transportation systems and unmanned aircraft systems.

The Memorandum of Cooperation will enable the two nations to exchange information, data and best practices on topics including the use of P3s to support infrastructure development, intelligent transportation systems and unmanned aircraft systems.

“In this era of globalization and interdependence, cooperative partnerships around the world are a necessity and we’re fortunate to have great friends in Australia who understand this imperative,” says Foxx, who is currently visiting Australia and meeting with the government and private industry to learn more about their experiences with P3s.

USDOT says Australia is known as a leader in using P3s for infrastructure projects and allowing small government investments to “leverage much larger amounts of private capital to support the construction of roads, bridges, transit systems and more.”