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ARTICLE · 18 DECEMBER 2019

Why Major Infrastructure Projects Succeed

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Jane Bird delivered the afternoon keynote at the Toronto Region Board of Trade's 5th Annual Transportation Summit. She spoke about the characteristics of a successful major infrastructure project...

CanadaStrategy
Jane Bird
Jane Bird
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Q&A with Jane Bird on partnership, governance and the private sector

Jane Bird delivered the afternoon keynote at the Toronto Region Board of Trade's 5th Annual Transportation Summit. She spoke about the characteristics of a successful major infrastructure project and included her experiences as former CEO of the Canada Line Inc. The $2-billion Canada Line in Vancouver was the first significant public/private transit partnership in North America.

Q: What are the top the characteristics of a successful major infrastructure project?

Jane Bird (JB): There are three—partnership, governance, and an appropriate role for the private sector. These characteristics need to exist in an overarching theme of trust. Successful projects need to align the goals of a project’s partners. Those executing need to be very clear on what each of the partners (public and private) see as success for them. From there, principles and performance outcomes can be developed as the basis to

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