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Building What’s Next: Yuval Cohen on the Future of Infrastructure Finance
Explore how investment and delivery innovation are reshaping cities, systems and communities worldwide with Jacobs' global principal – capital & program advisory
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With more than three decades of experience in infrastructure finance and delivery, Yuval Cohen helps public agencies and private developers bring complex, high-impact projects to life.
As an infrastructure economist and recognized public-private partnerships (P3) veteran, he focuses on designing procurement and delivery strategies that connect vision with value — turning transformative infrastructure concepts into feasible, commercially viable and financeable programs.
Throughout his career, Yuval has advised public agencies, sovereign governments and multilateral development organizations on multibillion-dollar procurements, guiding them through technical, commercial, financial and delivery challenges in real time. His global expertise spans the natural and built environment, with experience earned in North, Central and South America — from Canada to Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina, Panamá, Chile and Mexico, among others — as well as Africa, Europe, Australia and the Middle East.
Yuval’s portfolio includes projects across transportation, energy, buildings and utilities — covering rail and transit systems, airports, terminals, roads, bridges, courthouses, higher education energy and utilities programs, ports and water and wastewater systems.
Yuval started his career on Wall Street before entering academia, has authored many peer-reviewed papers and delivered industry presentations around the world. He has also advised on several first- of-their-kind projects that are characterized as “investment partnerships” or P3s, including:
- The U.S.’s first courthouse delivered as a P3 in California
- The first U.S. airport P3 in Puerto Rico
- The first commuter rail P3 in Denver
- One of the earliest P3 toll facilities in Virginia
- One of the first higher education P3s in energy and power
- South America’s first privately delivered water desalination plant in Chile.
Now, as global principal – capital & program advisory at Jacobs, Yuval’s international recognition bridges finance, market tested commercial aspects with technical delivery — helping clients design programs that balance innovation with real-world feasibility. Yuval maintains active relationships with the private investor-developer community.
“When structured well, P3s have the potential to accelerate the speed to market by aligning public needs with private resources that are properly incentivized to deliver assured outcomes.”
Yuval Cohen
Get to know Yuval
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36 +
years of experience advancing global infrastructure finance, economics and delivery
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6
continents where Yuval has advised on major infrastructure and development programs
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$ 25 B+
in capital raised for projects that successfully reached financial close
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2
National Academy of Science panel committees where Yuval advised on federal innovation financing legislation passed at the time
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1
Long Island Rail Road MBA on Wheels — a “Brain Train” program where Yuval taught executive level MBA candidates on the train
What is your focus today at Jacobs?
I’m empowering clients to think strategically and critically on how to fund, deliver and sustain transformative programs — whether that’s through alternative or hybrid financing mechanisms, joint development or long-term concession structures.
Recently, I supported regional mobility efforts in Los Angeles ahead of a major sporting event, identifying innovative revenue strategies and helping shape a resilient delivery framework that goes beyond the event itself. I also recently led an effort advising one of the nation's largest transit agencies procure a first-of-its-kind resilient microgrid solution.
My goal is to help both agencies and private developer/investors make informed, data-driven decisions in an evolving policy and funding landscape –– aligning sound financial strategy with efficient infrastructure delivery to create resilient, future-ready programs. I am also passionate about sustainable solutions, as well as creating opportunities for the next generation and mentoring emerging leaders in this evolving climate.
You’ve worked on some of the world’s most innovative public-private partnerships. What makes P3s so powerful when done right?
P3s, or investment partnerships, are not new to the developed world — many countries including the U.K., Australia and the U.S. used similar models 200 years ago to deliver critical infrastructure.
When properly structured and procured transparently, with full accountability and oversight, these P3 models can bring together public needs and wants. By brining private investment, creativity, innovation, efficiency and financial discipline to projects that might otherwise take decades to realize can help avoid significant cost overruns.
The key is aligning incentives that balance risk and reward — so that all stakeholders are invested in long-term performance and community benefit.
On projects like Denver’s Eagle commuter rail program and NJ Transit’s microgrid initiative, we were helping agencies adopt new frameworks with confidence, ensuring the structure worked both financially and operationally. That’s what makes these partnerships so rewarding.
Your recent work has focused on preparing cities for large-scale mobility challenges. What does that look like today?
At Jacobs, I’ve been advising clients seeking to maximize the operational performance of facilities they manage or are interested in acquiring. That work ranges from helping a private developer transform an existing multimodal hub in New York City into a next-generation, just-in-time retail center of influence, to assisting Los Angeles in evaluating new revenue streams and delivery options for an upcoming sporting event. Our service offerings are not just centered on how to procure, fund or finance projects, but how to future-proof them — so that they serve communities and adjust to technological change long after the spotlight fades.
Infrastructure funding and delivery are evolving rapidly. How are you assisting clients in anticipating these shifts and positioning their projects for success in a competitive and dynamic environment?
Change brings opportunity as well as challenges. Drawing on my experience as a financial advisor to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau, as well as my work with debt issuers, lenders and investors, my colleagues and I work with our clients to position large capital programs for long-term success. We balance ideation with market-tested solutions to deliver programs that are financially sound, resilient and aligned with long-term public benefits.
How do you see the role of P3s evolving in the next decade?
We’re seeing a shift from one-off, stand-alone projects, to integrated programs, with hybrid funding and financing mechanisms. The investment partnership mindset could inform everything from planning and procurement to long-term asset management. It’s not just about financing anymore — it’s about collaboration and risk mitigation strategies, focused on delivering outcomes that matter to people and the planet.
