PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.

SEC. 1534. [49 U.S.C. 301 note] PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS. (a) Best Practices.—The Secretary shall compile, and make available to the public on the website of the Department, best practices on how States, public transportation agencies, and other public officials can work with the private sector in the development, financing, construction, and operation of transportation facilities. (b) Contents.—The best practices compiled under subsection (a) shall include polices and techniques to ensure that the interests of the traveling public and State and local governments are protected in any agreement entered into with the private sector for the development, financing, construction, and operation of transportation facilities. (c) Technical Assistance.—The Secretary, on request, may provide technical assistance to States, public transportation agencies, and other public officials regarding proposed public-private partnership agreements for the development, financing, construction, and operation of transportation facilities, including assistance in analyzing whether the use of a public-private partnership agreement would provide value compared with traditional public delivery methods. (d) Standard Transaction Contracts.— (1) Development.—Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop standard public-private partnership transaction model contracts for the most popular types of public-private partnerships for the development, financing, construction, and operation of transportation facilities. (2) Use.—The Secretary shall encourage States, public transportation agencies, and other public officials to use the model contracts as a base template when developing their own public-private partnership agreements for the development, financing, construction, and operation of transportation facilities.