Home Events & Meetings Project Documents Project Timeline Project Maps Contact Us Welcome What is a "PPP"? Public-private partnerships" (PPP) refer to contractual agreements formed between a public agency and private sector entity that allow for greater private sector participation in the delivery of transportation.... [Click here for a FULL definition] What's been updated on the site? Update: 12/26/12 - Toll Petition Response [view] Update: 9/19/12 - Conflict of Interest [view] Visits Since February 10th 2011: Links: Florida's Turnpike Enterprise: floridasturnpike.com About this project: The First Coast Outer Beltway is a proposed four-lane limited access toll facility that includes the St. Johns River Crossing Corridor in St. Johns and Clay Counties and the Branan Field-Chaffee Road (First Coast Expressway) project in Clay and Duval Counties. The First Coast Outer Beltway will provide a connecting roadway, outside of the existing I-295 loop, between I-95 in St Johns County and I-10 in Duval County. A total of 13 new interchanges and a major bridge structure across the St. Johns River are also proposed. The total length of the proposed roadway is approximately 46.5 miles. The northern 15 mile section from Blanding Blvd to I-10 is currently scheduled to be constructed by two design-build projects with scheduled lettings in 2013. This North segment is referred to as either the First Coast Expressway or Branan Field-Chaffee Express project. The remaining sections are the South from I-95 to US-17 and Middle from US-17 to Blanding Boulevard. Combined, these sections make up the St. Johns River Crossing corridor and are anticipated to have final NEPA approval in the spring of 2013. Adjacent to the First Coast Expressway corridor are the Branan Field Frontage Roads, which are currently under construction. For more information about these projects please refer to the following links: First Coast Expressway / Branan Field Chaffee Express St. Johns River Crossing Branan Field Frontage Roads What is a "PPP"? The South and Middle segments of the First Coast Outer Beltway could potentially be constructed using a different financing method called a Public Private Partnership (PPP). The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has defined a PPP as follows: "Public-private partnerships" (PPP) refer to contractual agreements formed between a public agency and private sector entity (private business) that allow for greater participation by the private business in the building of transportation projects. In the past, private business participation has been limited to separate planning, design or construction contracts where they are paid for their services – based on the public agency’s requirements. Expanding the private business role allows the public agencies to use private business technical, management and financial resources in new ways to achieve certain public agency objectives such as having a better understanding of cost and schedule, having more staff to use on the project, using new ideas, having staff with special talents and the use of private business dollars. The private business can become more involved in return for assuming the new or expanded responsibilities and risks. Some of the primary reasons for public agencies to enter into public-private partnerships include: High priority projects can be finished faster ; Use private business management talents for large and complex programs; Use new ideas developed by private businesses; Use private business experience to develop funding; Provides an opportunity for private businesses to develop, own and operate roadways, Public Agencies can use staff and resources from private businesses instead of having to hire more staff and need more funding. In this [fhwa.dot.gov] website, the term “public-private-partnership” is used for any action under which the private sector (private business) has a greater role in the planning, financing, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of a transportation facility compared to traditional procurement methods. If you'd like more information on a "PPP," please click here.