The Georgia Department of Transportation is revising the process by which it will seek a developer for a new multi-modal passenger terminal in downtown Atlanta.
Instead of using a two-phased approach that begins with seeking the qualifications of firms interested in the public-private partnership, GDOT will use a streamlined procurement process and now will issue only a request for proposals.
The RFP is expected to be released on Dec. 1, with selection of a winner targeted for May 1, 2011.
The multi-modal terminal is the state’s second P3. It will incorporate intercity, regional, and local buses and existing rail systems while planning for future transportation modes, including high-speed rail.
The approximately 62-acre site is expected to include commercial, retail, and housing elements. GDOT has around $60 million of federal funds earmarked for the project, which ultimately will be accomplished and financed through a shared-risk P3. The state has applied for additional funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER II, competitive grant program. It is not clear at this point if bonding will be considered.
