Alternative Project Delivery Methods in California: The Path Forward

Abstract:

Alternative Project Delivery Methods (APDMs) are increasingly being recognized as effective alternatives to the traditional Design-Bid-Build (DBB) approach for transportation projects. As APDMs gain traction among California’s transportation agencies, understanding the legislative frameworks that enable their use and the characteristics of each method is critical. This study benchmarks the existing use of APDMs in California transportation agencies of varying types and sizes, while considering the characteristics (advantages and barriers/challenges to implementation) of each APDM and the authorizations enabling its implementation. Based on these findings, it also provides recommendations for key factors to consider in APDM selection and implementation. The study used a four-pronged mixed-methods approach, including a literature review, content analysis of 30 APDM-related bills (1999–2024), a statewide agency survey, and eight in-depth case studies. Findings reveal growing legislative support for broader APDM adoption with fewer restrictions than in the past, but findings also highlight disparities in implementation between agencies of different types (e.g., state vs. county agencies). Public and private sectors show differing levels of APDM maturity (experience and readiness) and future adoption plans, with greater interest in the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) and Progressive Design-Build (PDB) methods than Design Build (DB). Key barriers include limited internal capacity, legislative constraints, and a lack of staff training, particularly among smaller agencies. The study also identifies a strong need for industry-wide awareness and strategic method selection based on project complexity and agency readiness. This study contributes actionable recommendations for legislators, agencies, and contractors to support effective APDM implementation. It lays the groundwork for future research into the effect of agency governance structures and decision-making cultures on APDM implementation and the development of tools to assess agency readiness and support informed APDM selection. This report supports the California State Transportation Committee (CSTC) and the State Legislature's decisions by providing a state-of-the-art exploration of the APDMs used in California and can help shape future APDM legislative directions. By helping agencies understand different project delivery methods, this research supports faster, more cost-effective, and higher-quality transportation projects that better serve California communities.

Publications:

Alternative Project Delivery Methods in California: The Path Forward (Full Report)

Research Brief

Authors:

Dr. Ghada M. Gad
Dr. Gad is a Professor in Construction Engineering and Management in the Civil Engineering Department at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. She holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Iowa State University, specializing in contracts, risk management, and dispute resolution. Her research focuses on project delivery methods, procurement strategies, risk management, cost forecasting, and quality management for major infrastructure projects. Her academic research is complemented by industry experience with a Bechtel subsidiary, where she worked across all construction procurement stages, from contract development to claim analysis. She served as the Research Coordinator for the Transportation Research Board’s (TRB) Project Delivery Methods Committee, is currently a member of both the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) Transportation & Aviation and Education Committees, and is Handling Editor for the Transportation Research Record (TRR).

Dr. Maria Calahorra-Jimenez
Dr. Calahorra-Jimenez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Construction Management at California State University, Fresno. She holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder and a Ph.D. in Engineering Science from the Catholic University of Chile. Before earning her doctorates, she worked in international engineering firms for 14 years. She served as a project engineer, project manager, and technical director in the design and construction oversight of more than a hundred infrastructure projects—totaling nearly $2 billion— in Spain, Mexico, Panama, and Chile. Dr. Calahorra-Jimenez’s research lines focus on alternative and digital project delivery, sustainability, and diversity, equity, and inclusion in infrastructure project delivery.

Chaimae Nacir
Chaimae Nacir is a Civil Engineering undergraduate student at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Over the past three years, she has contributed extensively to transportation research projects and co-authored multiple papers, including ones published in the ASCE Journal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution. She participated in a Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) project evaluating dispute resolution process effectiveness through indepth case studies across seven state DOTs. She also worked on the NCHRP 25-06 project, analyzing Best Value legislation and protest cases. Chaimae will be starting work on the NCHRP 10-115 project, which aims to develop a guide on Progressive Design-Build for transportation projects. Her research interests center on emerging transportation project delivery methods across all modes, with a focus on alternative delivery, dispute resolution, and the legal and institutional frameworks that support innovation—particularly in procurement, risk allocation, and collaborative models such as public-private partnerships.

Ronald Shrestha
Ronald Shrestha is a Graduate Research Fellow at the Fresno State Transportation Institute and a Research Assistant working under the supervision of Dr. Maria Calahorra-Jimenez at California State University, Fresno. Ronald holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Tribhuvan University, Nepal and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Construction Management at Fresno State. Before beginning his graduate studies, Ronald co-founded N.R. Construction and Suppliers Pvt. Ltd., where he worked as an Office and Field Engineer. In this role, he supported the design, drafting, procurement, and coordination of bridge and building construction projects. His main research lines focus on alternative project delivery methods, performance-based contracting, and infrastructure sustainability.

Published:

February 2026

Keywords:

Project delivery

Design-Build

Construction management

Legislation

California transportation agencies