Around the world, investments in transport infrastructure have risen to the top of the urban policy agenda. Effective urban mobility provides the foundation for economic prosperity, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion. It is now widely understood that after decades of underinvestment, there is a vast need for cities globally to upgrade and expand their roads, bridges, tunnels, airports, seaports and public transit systems. The Global Infrastructure Outlook predicts that by 2040 there is a global need for nearly $50 trillion in transportation investments worldwide to keep pace with rapid population growth and support sustainable economic development. Much of this investment is required in cities, particularly in the middle income and developing countries.

Against this backdrop, this paper presents evidence on the strategies to most effectively procure large transport infrastructure projects, and explores the lessons learned about using public-private partnerships (PPPs) worldwide.