Comments on: Wikinomics and Government http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2007/09/07/wikinomics-and-government/ Exploring How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything Sun, 28 Aug 2011 14:21:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Joe http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2007/09/07/wikinomics-and-government/comment-page-1/#comment-34471 Joe Mon, 10 Sep 2007 21:29:50 +0000 http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2007/09/07/wikinomics-and-government/#comment-34471 I would like to report on one infrastructure PPP that has all the preliminary earmarks of representing what can be done when the public and private sectors truly do team up as partners. Look no further than downtown Milwaukee and what was a deteriorating Amtrak Terminal. Wisconsin DOT, acquired the terminal around 2000 in an effort to staunch that deterioration. There was a single FTA grant of $2,000,000, beyond the purchase price, available for further development. Wisconsin DOT developed an RFP and went to the private sector. The developer was primarily selected because it was willing to bring some of its own capital to the project. Initially that was about 1.8 million dollars. It has taken Wisconsin DOT and the developer a good amount of time to get where we are today. The project has morphed into a true transportation center. Amtrak and all intercity bus services will operate out of the facility when it opens in November 2007. As many as 1 million plus passengers are expected to pass through the new facility. Both public and private capital have increased to further develop this project. Total first phase will be around $16 million. WisDOT and the developer have also worked to relocate Wisconsin's freeway/highway transportation information center to the facility, acquired funds and opened a railroad depot at Milwaukee's International Airport, have worked with the City to transform the three blocks of Milwaukee's 5th street into a pedestrian linkway between the terminal (Transportation center and downtown...Wisconsin Avenue.) The capital came from the State of Wisconsin, the developer...about 3.4 million in cash, the feds, and the City of Milwaukee. The public sector also has an interest in the revenues that flow back from the retail, transportation and office facilities that are being leased as a part of the project. Once completed in November, the developer will operate and manage the facility under a 25 year lease with three five year renewal options. Check it out. Bottom line: money from the public and the private sectors, improved multi-modal transportation facilities for City of Milwaukee users, the public sector also shares in the income stream of the project just like partners in a private sector venture, and this multimodal facility is likely to generate increased interest in urban renewal and development because all modes of transportation and transporetation information are available at one conveneint location in the heart of Milwaukee's downtown! I would like to report on one infrastructure PPP that has all the preliminary earmarks of representing what can be done when the public and private sectors truly do team up as partners. Look no further than downtown Milwaukee and what was a deteriorating Amtrak Terminal. Wisconsin DOT, acquired the terminal around 2000 in an effort to staunch that deterioration. There was a single FTA grant of $2,000,000, beyond the purchase price, available for further development.

Wisconsin DOT developed an RFP and went to the private sector. The developer was primarily selected because it was willing to bring some of its own capital to the project. Initially that was about 1.8 million dollars. It has taken Wisconsin DOT and the developer a good amount of time to get where we are today. The project has morphed into a true transportation center. Amtrak and all intercity bus services will operate out of the facility when it opens in November 2007. As many as 1 million plus passengers are expected to pass through the new facility. Both public and private capital have increased to further develop this project. Total first phase will be around $16 million. WisDOT and the developer have also worked to relocate Wisconsin’s freeway/highway transportation information center to the facility, acquired funds and opened a railroad depot at Milwaukee’s International Airport, have worked with the City to transform the three blocks of Milwaukee’s 5th street into a pedestrian linkway between the terminal (Transportation center and downtown…Wisconsin Avenue.) The capital came from the State of Wisconsin, the developer…about 3.4 million in cash, the feds, and the City of Milwaukee. The public sector also has an interest in the revenues that flow back from the retail, transportation and office facilities that are being leased as a part of the project. Once completed in November, the developer will operate and manage the facility under a 25 year lease with three five year renewal options. Check it out.

Bottom line: money from the public and the private sectors, improved multi-modal transportation facilities for City of Milwaukee users, the public sector also shares in the income stream of the project just like partners in a private sector venture, and this multimodal facility is likely to generate increased interest in urban renewal and development because all modes of transportation and transporetation information are available at one conveneint location in the heart of Milwaukee’s downtown!

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