Tools for the Wider Economic Impact Assessment of Corridor Improvements: Lessons Learned from the FHWA Implementation Assistance Program in Indiana
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems
Volume 143, Issue 5
Abstract
In an effort to assist transportation professionals with the evaluation of wider economic benefits (WEB) of highway improvements, this paper provides important insights into the open-source AASHTO EconWorks wider economic benefits analysis tools using three case studies located in Indiana. The paper makes a significant contribution to the state of practice by providing an in-depth discussion of the lessons learned during the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) implementation assistance program in Indiana. The paper briefly presents the theoretical background related to the development of the tools and explains data needs and sources. The discussion of the case studies primarily focuses on the sensitivity of the tools’ results to critical input parameters (such as volume to capacity ratio and productivity elasticity), which has not been addressed in previous studies. Lastly, the paper elaborates on the applicability and limitations of the tools, and also discusses their potential integration into an agency’s decision-making process. The inferences from this case study can be useful for state departments of transportation (DOTs), metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), and other organizations interested in quantifying the potential productivity gains associated with planned or future highway projects.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by a FHWA SHRP2 Implementation Grant and by the Joint Transportation Research Program administered by INDOT and Purdue University. The authors would like to thank Roy Nunnally, Samy Noureldin, Emmanuel Nsonwu, Frank Baukert and Korey Chu with INDOT, and Lisa Lorena Losada Rojas for their feedback and assistance with data collection. The contents of this paper reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented in this paper, and do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the sponsoring organizations. These contents do not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.
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Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems
Volume 143 • Issue 5 • May 2017
Copyright
©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 8, 2016
Accepted: Dec 7, 2016
Published online: Feb 10, 2017
Published in print: May 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Jul 10, 2017
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