Volume 10, Issue 18- Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Mary Scott Nabers, President/CEO, Strategic Partnerships, Inc.
In March, the city of Atlanta, Georgia, was given an ultimatum - pay unknown hackers $51,000 or lose access to all internal files. There are a couple of lessons to learn from this unfortunate situation. Hackers look for networks with critical, time-sensitive data and they love to attack cities. The city of Atlanta did what most cities would do...they chose not to pay the ransom. However, the city ended up paying about four times as much to restore its systems. Ransomware attacks are multi-million-dollar crimes and they are becoming more common every day. Ransomware infects more than 100,000 computers each day. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation reports 3,000 ransomware reports last year and says that individuals may have paid out as much as $24 million to hackers. The official reports normally involve ransomware attacks on large organizations or public entities. Payments for ransomware attacks are reaching $1 billion - yet, many companies and organizations remain completely vulnerable. 

Most governmental entities have taken major precautions but many remain vulnerable because of a lack of funds. Public entities usually have a policy not to pay ransoms but, as in Atlanta's situation, officials realize that the fix may be considerably higher than the ransom request. A few years ago, hackers lowered their ransom requests hoping that would escalate payments. Many do pay the ransom but at least one in every five times, those who pay the ransom don't get their files back. 

Because government now puts more data on the same network, ransomware attacks are more frightening and usually more costly. Everything that touches citizens can be impacted by a cyberattack - traffic lights, online payment systems, air traffic at airports, security systems, emergency response, cameras, education and health care. Getting hacked is one of the greatest fears for public officials.

Check out the latest article from our Texas Government Insider Newsletter!
California- The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) is providing $2.6 billion to 28 transit agencies statewide. The grant funding is part of the Transit and Intercity Rail Capacity Program (TIRCP) and will go toward expanding rail capacity and reducing congestion. As part of the funding, $164.5 million will go toward the Peninsula Corridor Joint Power Board's Peninsula Corridor Electrification Expansion Project, which covers Santa Clara, San Mateo and San Francisco counties. The funding will help support all-electric passenger service on the Caltrain system. 

The Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority will receive $20.5 million for the construction of a new multi-level parking structure at the Dublin-Pleasanton BART station. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority will receive $75 million toward extending BART into downtown San Jose and the city of Santa Clara, creating four new stations. CalSTA is also providing additional funding for seven critical projects through multi-year funding agreements, bringing the total awarded to over $4.3 billion. A complete list of the recipients is located here.
Florida- Developers have until July 27 to respond to a request for information (RFI) released by Miami-Dade County that asks for feedback on how Miami-Dade could use a public-private partnership model to expand transit along the six Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) corridors. Those are commuting routes seen as the busiest in Miami-Dade, and ones that would expand Metrorail and Metromover into new markets.

Potential modes being considered within the designated corridors under the smart plan include heavy rail transit, light rail transit, monorail, bus rapid transit, commuter rail transit and an automated people mover. 
The county and Florida Department of Transportation are currently conducting National Environmental Policy Act /Project Development and Environmental studies for these corridors. The information received will be used in deciding how to best maximize the opportunities available to implement certain projects through a P3 and to later issue a formal request for public procurement. 
Hawaii- The Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole could be getting a $69 million federal inspection station. The new facility is where passengers and baggage from foreign countries can be screened as well as an additional holdroom building and ground transportation and covered waiting area. 

The state expects to solicit bids for the project as early as next month begin construction in early 2019. A temporary Federal Inspection Station is currently housed in a white tent.
Wisconsin- A $65 million referendum recently passed and the Chippewa Falls School District is developing a preliminary schedule for three upcoming construction projects. The school board will consider an architectural engineering contract and financing options at their meeting in May. Bid documents are expected to be sent out in February 2019, and the board is slated to approve bids in March. Concept designs are currently being reviewed for three schools receiving referendum funds; Stillson Elementary, Chippewa Falls Middle School and Chippewa Falls Senior High School. 

Updating and remodeling the middle school will cost roughly $24.8 million and updating and remodeling the high school is slated to cost $18.9 million. Both the middle and high schools need a large amount of HVAC, tech and electrical work. A new Stillson Elementary will be built in the town of Lafayette on a 37-acre site that is one mile west of Stillson's current location. The expected cost of the new school is $21.1 million. Construction will take 16 months, from breaking ground to a finished elementary school. July of 2020 is the district's goal for the school's opening.  
Pennsylvania and New Jersey- The Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) and the Port Authority Transit Corp. (PATCO) have announced a solar initiative. DRPA has issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) for the design and construction of the solar facilities, which would be spread across eight locations for DRPA and PATCO. The authorities anticipate 50 percent energy savings. The DRPA is a regional transportation agency that serves as steward of four bridges that cross the Delaware River between Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and PATCO is a rapid transit system running between South Jersey and Philadelphia. 

Proposed locations for the solar project include the Commodore Barry Bridge, Betsy Ross Bridge, One Port Center, Lindenwold Yard, Lindenwold Station, Woodcrest Station, Ashland Station and Ferry Ave Station. The plan is to install solar through a combination of ballasted flat-roof mounts; ground-mounted arrays and solar canopies over parking, storage and work areas. The RFQ also will seek statements of qualifications for long-term power purchase agreements for the solar systems.  
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Massachusetts- The city of Salem is reviewing aging U.S. Coast Guard property that is located on Winter Island. There is a hangar and barracks that date back to the 1930s. A study in 2007 showed it would take $1 million to restore the barracks. An update is needed on the building's structural integrity and the city is planning to put out a request for interest (RFI) to see what people or organizations might be interested in having at that location. This RFI could help form a future request for proposals. 

The hangar is used year-round for storage and repair work. Based on the 2007 study, the structure of the barracks and the hangar are sound, given their current condition, and should be salvageable. City officials would like to see the buildings transformed into some type of event space, but lack of funding is an issue. Winter Island is a popular site for campers and during the summer months, the outside of the hangar has been used to project movies. The RFI is expected to be released this year.
Indiana- The Indianapolis Airport Authority is looking to build a new hotel and has issued a request for expression of interest (RFI) to explore the possibility of having a hotel on airport grounds and whether it would provide a financial shot in the arm to the local economy. The new full-service hotel would be located on a 12-acre lot next to the Indianapolis International Airport's terminal parking structure. 

The airport authority sees potential for the west side of Indianapolis and this expressing of interest will help gather input from hotel developers to determine the feasibility of this project. The airport authority is accepting responses on this project through June 28.
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California- The city of Novato is seeking bids for a scaled-back version of a renovation of the playing field area and sports complex near the Margaret Todd Senior Center on Hill Road. Phase one of the Hill Recreation Area Master Plan's project will cost over $7 million and includes a synthetic turf field, six pickle ball and bocce ball courts and resurfacing and restriping existing parking lots. Parking is slated to increase from 99 parking spaces to 217. 

The second phase of the master plan will cost between $4 million and $5 million and includes a second synthetic turf field, four pickle ball courts and improvements along the south side of Hill Road. Construction on the first phase of the master plan will begin in the spring of 2019 and arrangements will be made to keep the Margaret Todd Senior Center and the east playing field open and accessible to the public.
North Carolina- The town of Carolina Beach is considering a mixed-use development to address its parking needs. In January, the town council directed staff to explore a possible public-private partnership (P3) for the project. The development would create a parking deck in the town's Central Business District which would create 300 additional parking spots. 

In addition to parking spaces, the remainder of the development would be reserved for mixed-use plans. The ground floor of the mixed-use development could be commercial or residential and the top-floor and middle floors could be a parking deck. Town staff are poised to release a request for proposals the first week of May.
Massachusetts- Barnstable County has received approval by federal authorities to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for a public-private partnership (P3) to operate a rest area that is eastbound on Route 6 between exits 6 and 7. The goal will be to have an RFP issued for a potential lessee in the fall with a new facility open by the summer of 2019. The retailer selected for the partnership would be required to replace the current bathroom facility and provide for its maintenance, which is estimated to cost $40,000 per year. 

The rest area attracts more than 100,000 visitors each year during the spring, summer and fall months. The county leases the property annually from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Because Route 6 is not part of the Interstate System, it is not subject to commercial restrictions that apply to interstate highways.  
Connecticut- The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) has considered adding a new train station near Wall Street. For decades, the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad operated a train station at 47 Wall St. The train station is long gone, but the building and railroad tracks beneath the building remain in use. Bringing a train station back to the Wall Street area required approval by the CTDOT and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which oversee operation of Metro-North Railroad. 

The Wall Street Neighborhood Association formed this spring to offer the city help and input on restarting the stalled redevelopment project known as Wall Street Place. The neighborhood association has proposed a public-private partnership for the project which would add a stop to the city-owned Mechanic Street parking lot. The State Bond Commission has approved $275,000 to study such a station. The project would include construction of a sidewalk and installing of lighting in the lot alongside the Metro-North's Danbury Line tracks. The new stop would be the fifth in the area.
Georgia- After the success of a 3-year-old student housing privatization initiative, the University System of Georgia is expanding the program. The plan includes adding privatized housing programs to seven campuses across the state. The Board of Regents for the system, which oversees the state's public colleges and universities, released a request for qualified concessionaires (RFQC) to gauge interest. After reviewing responses, officials will pre-qualify up to four companies to participate in a subsequent request for proposals. 

The expansion under consideration would involve more than 12,000 beds. Participating campuses would include Albany State University, Savannah State University, the University of West Georgia in Carrollton and Valdosta State University. Responses to the RFQC are due by June 1.
California- Fresno State has considered replacing its current student housing, that was built in the 1960's, with modern buildings through a public-private partnership (P3). Suites, singles and mixed-use buildings are possibilities to replace University Courtyard, the school's 1,100-bed dormitory. The new housing complexes, expected to include dining areas, would be part of ongoing renovations. 

Those opposed to the proposed P3 student housing project cite rising costs for students living on campus. The university hasn't decided whether the existing buildings will be renovated or torn down altogether. It's possible that some of the buildings will be spared from demolition to provide students a housing option that costs less than the new dorms.
Connecticut- The University of Connecticut (UConn) Health Center, UConn Health, expects to begin mid-negotiations with a public-private partnership (P3) by September 2018. UConn Health is the branch of the university that oversees clinical care, advanced biomedical research and academic education in medicine. The system includes the 234-bed John Dempsey Hospital, a medical group and medical and dental schools. The system intends to issue a request for proposals for a financial consultant to help it assess the market and manage the process of soliciting and analyzing proposals from potential partners. 

The academic medical center is exploring a P3 to attract more faculty and students, increase patient volume and achieve financial security. The P3 will also deliver on a promise of Bioscience Connecticut, a plan in conjunction with the state to renovate UConn health facilities and improve research capacity. Plans for the partnership come after projected budget deficits the past few years.
New York- Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency (IURA) has chosen to reopen the bidding process for the redevelopment of the Green Street Garage property. The agency only received one proposal after the first request for proposals (RFP). It was determined that the lack of clarity surrounding parts of the process, not the proposal, was too much of an obstacle to proceed. 

Before submitting a development proposal, interested parties will have to submit proof of status in several areas by June 1 to be eligible for consideration. A conference center had initially been part of the city's requests, but modifications were made and now an alternative street-level active use would be acceptable. If developers meet that criterion by June 1, they will then have the remaining 60 days to submit a full proposal in response to the RFP. If no second developer emerges, the initial proposal will be reconsidered.
Rhode Island- The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is accepting proposals from candidates in the autonomous vehicle industry for its Transportation Innovation Partnership. The chosen company will enter into a public-private partnership with the state and work to identify and propose a route and schedule of operations. The company also will plan, design, test and operate a pilot mobility service. 

Proposals are due in midsummer, and the RIDOT will review and award a contract in the fall. Initial testing of a pilot mobility service could occur as soon as the end of 2018. The goal for the state is to fill a transportation gap between downtown Providence and Olneyville via the Woonasquatucket River corridor.
California- The Shasta County Jail is lacking space to house inmates and has contracted with a designer to expand the jail for 60 new beds. The beds will add to the existing 383 bed-capacity at the jail. The county has sought approval from the Board of State and Community Corrections to add the beds, which also would require the addition of more showers and other infrastructure. A plan has been approved to bring in an independent company to evaluate the jail and study other possibilities, including privatizing the aged and packed facility and whether voters would pass a tax to support public safety. 

Long term, the county is also eyeing the current Shasta County Superior Court, which is set to move its operations to a new building once it's constructed. The county will own the older buildings after the court moves and plans to use two courtrooms attached to the jail as space for more beds. Other long-term plans include moving the jail kitchen and laundry facilities offsite and using that space for more beds, a work camp and even a new building to replace the decades-old current jail.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

May 3
Grant Thornton will be hosting a webinar, "A local funding model for the nation?" from 1-1:30 p.m. on May 3. The landscape for funding Los Angeles has become a world leader in local transportation funding solutions. Through its Measure R and Measure M referenda that authorized local incremental sales taxes, it has created a revenue stream of more than $100 billion over the next 40 years to fund transportation improvements. In parallel, LA Metro launched its own highway program and set about investing funds across several modes of transportation. The webinar will explore these initiatives and other transportation funding options for local government. Register for the webinar here.

Speakers include: Brien Desilets, Head of Infrastructure Advisory, Grant Thornton; Lan Saadatnejadi, Former Executive Officer of LA Metro's Highway Program; and Naveen Lamba, Data Analytics Director, Grant Thornton.
June 13 and 14
Inframations' U.S. P3 Infrastructure Forum of 2018 will be held June 13-14 at The Hilton Midtown, New York. Heading into its fourteenth year, the event will bring together infrastructure developers, investors, financiers, state and federal public officials and regional transportation authorities for two days of panel discussions, keynote presentations and valuable networking. 

Senior delegates from the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and Latin America will attend to discuss what is happening across the country and the issues that are shaping the industry's future. Registration is open for the conference here. View more details here or contact eventmail@inframationgroup.com.
July 23 and 24
The P3 Airport Summit will be held July 23 and 24 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, 1 Market Place, San Diego, Calif. Several speakers, including Mary Scott Nabers, will examine airport infrastructure challenges faced nationwide and offer lessons learned and best practices in project delivery, procurement and life-cycle asset management. The event will provide keynotes, case studies, panels, workshops and diverse networking opportunities. 

Attendees with little experience in the development and operation of the P3 model will benefit from industry experts presenting their knowledge and valuable insights into market trends crucial for business decisions. Attendees include senior management from firms in the construction, engineering, architecture, legal, investment and consulting industries as well as senior business and facility administrators from airports. Join over 1,000 industry leaders, public owners and stakeholders for this two-day event with a packed agenda. Register for the summit here. 
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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

- The University of Kansas (KU) has hired Mary Walsh as the new director of information technology for its Lawrence and Edwards campuses. Walsh is currently an assistant vice president at Tulane University. She will start her new role as KU's chief information officer (CIO) on July 1. KU's previous CIO, Bob Lim, resigned from his position in June 2017 to start a new job at San Jose State University. 
- President Trump selected Lt. Gen. Bradford Shwedo as the next chief information officer (CIO) of the Joint Staff. Shwedo will replace Coast Guard Vice Adm. Marshall B. Lytle. He currently serves as the Air Force's CIO and chief information dominance officer, positions he's held since June 2017. 
- Robert Glenn, the president of Athens State University in Alabama, has been chosen as the next president of the University of Houston-Victoria. Glenn will begin his new position Aug. 1. University of Houston-Victoria President Vic Morgan plans to step down from his position by fall 2018. 
- Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo was appointed by the Senate as the Trump administration's new secretary of state. The United States' 70th secretary of state is replacing Rex Tillerson. 
- The newly formed Metrorail Safety Commission (MSC) has named David Mayer chief executive officer, effective June 4. Lawmakers in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. established the commission to serve as the state safety oversight agency for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATA) rail system. Mayer is currently chief safety officer for the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, a job he started in 2014. 
- Tim Tharp, deputy superintendent at the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) at Montana's state education agency has announced his resignation. He was appointed in December 2016. Tharp plans to work at OPI through the end of May. 
- Nebraska's North Platte police chief is retiring this year after 44 years of service with the city. Mike Swain's last day is Oct. 26. He has been chief for the last eight years. 
- Connecticut's tax commissioner will step down from his post next week to pursue a new job in the private sector. Commissioner Kevin B. Sullivan has headed the Department of Revenue Services since 2011. Joe Mooney, deputy commissioner of the department, will serve as acting commissioner until a successor is named. 
- Sheila Gestring, current vice president of finance and chief financial officer at the University of South Dakota, was named as the school's new president. Gestring will replace Jim Abbott, who announced his retirement in September. Abbott is slated to leave after the end of the school year. 
- Craig Carpenito was appointed as United States attorney for New Jersey, where he has been serving in an interim capacity since January. Carpenito was previously a partner at a private sector law firm.
- Tacoma's newest college president, Lin Zhou, signed a contract Monday to lead Bates Technical College. A majority of the board voted to offer a two-year contract to Zhou, who was already serving as interim president. She replaces Ron Langrell. 
- Nick LoCicero has been chosen as Tampa Fire Rescue's next chief in Florida. LoCicero, a 32-year veteran of the department, has been serving as the assistant chief. He will take the place of retiring chief Tom Forward. 
- Gregory W. Ehrie has been named special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Newark division, the FBI office that covers most of New Jersey. Ehrie comes to the Newark FBI position from the agency's New York office, where he served as the special agent in charge of that office's intelligence division. 
- The North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) has named Peter Hans as their new president. The NCCCS helps oversee the state's 58 community colleges and nearly 700,000 students. The position became vacant in July after James Williamson resigned after about a year on the job.
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