U.S. and International Approaches to Performance Measurement for Transportation Systems
U.S. and International Approaches to Performance Measurement for Transportation Systems

Author:

Publisher: Transportation Research Board

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 168

ISBN-13: 0309126045

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"These proceedings contain a summary of the Transportation Research Board conference on U.S. and international approaches to performance measurement for transportation systems that was conducted on September 9-12, 2007, at the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center of the National Academies in Irvine, California. The theme for this third in a series of international conferences, Better Decisions and Better Communication, was selected to highlight opportunities for and experiences in using performance measurement as a strategic tool to better communicate goals and objectives and results to a wide range of stakeholder groups. Presentations highlighted cases in which performance measures have proved useful in guiding resource allocation decisions, improving day-to-day operations, establishing and demonstrating agency competency and accountability and, in some instances, making the case for more resources. The conference consisted of five plenary sessions, each followed by a series of corresponding, concurrent breakout sessions. The topics of the five plenary sessions were Performance Measures as an Organizational Management Tool to Establish Accountability, Communicating Performance Results Effectively to Your Customers, Data and Tools, Hot Topics (addressing the use of performance measures to gauge the effectiveness of tolling and congestion pricing and other innovative transportation strategies to address sustainability and safety issues), and Performance-Based Contracting and Measuring Project Delivery. Three resource papers were developed for the conference. The conference attracted 180 participants from Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States and featured 70 transportation specialists offering real-world expertise, from the application of performance metrics to case studies drawn from six countries. This range of experiences provided attendees with a comprehensive overview of the performance measurement techniques and approaches being applied to transportation systems in the United States and abroad."--Pub. desc.

Notes on the State-of-the Art of Benefit-cost Analysis as Related to Transportation Systems
Notes on the State-of-the Art of Benefit-cost Analysis as Related to Transportation Systems

Author: Joseph D. Crumlish

Publisher:

Published: 1966

Total Pages: 48

ISBN-13:

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This review of benefit-cost analysis as a tool for evaluating alternative courses of action describes the technique, discusses a number of benefit-cost studies, and indicates the difficulties inherent in this area of applied economics. * The author concentrates on the application of the technique to large scale transport problems, reviews the literature and indicates in his conclusions where the technique can be helpful and where there is little chance for its success.

Multimodal Aspects of Statewide Transportation Planning
Multimodal Aspects of Statewide Transportation Planning

Author: Henry L. Peyrebrune

Publisher: Transportation Research Board

Published: 2000

Total Pages: 68

ISBN-13: 9780309068697

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This synthesis report will be of interest to department of transportation ( DOT) administrators, planning supervisors, managers, and staffs, as well as to planning consultants that work with them. It provides information for practitioners interested in the results of attempts to apply multimodal considerations at the statewide level and identifies key research findings. It covers post-ISTEA (Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991) processes and projects and both passenger and freight activities. The report examines the application of three multimodal aspects: alternatives, modal mix, and integration into three statewide planning functions, which include state planning, corridor studies, and financing, budgeting, and programming. The emphasis is on implementation. This report of the Transportation Research Board documents processes and research currently under development, using three approaches: a literature review, results of a survey of state DOTs, and five case studies. It cites the following states with exemplary practices in multimodal/intermodal transportation based on a 1998 report by the policy research project at the University of Texas on Multimodal/ Intermodal Transportation: Florida, Minnesota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Benefit-cost Analysis with Nevada Characteristics
Benefit-cost Analysis with Nevada Characteristics

Author: Anabel Hernandez

Publisher:

Published: 2015

Total Pages: 90

ISBN-13:

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The efficient allocation of funding for transportation projects is crucial for Nevada's roadway system. Well-established prioritization frameworks are needed in order to accomplish the allocation of funding for projects that will provide the most benefit for its users. In Nevada, the Nevada Department of Transportation's (NDOT's) Performance Analysis Division conducts benefit-cost analysis (BCA) on all capacity projects equal to or exceeding $25 million. In recent years NDOT has used the California Life-Cycle Benefit-Cost Analysis Model (Cal-B/C) as part of their prioritization process. The Cal-B/C Model was developed by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). The default economic parameters in this model along with the economic parameters assigned by NDOT were used to run analysis on two projects in the state. This was completed to see how suitable Cal-B/C's parameters would be for use in Nevada since Cal-B/C's parameters are specific for California. This thesis also provides recommendations on updating the current economic parameters to better model Nevada's situation since certain parameters assigned by NDOT were still based on California data. Through a review of existing methodologies used across the country new parameter recommendations were made. Furthermore, an investigation of available BCA software was also conducted to determine if other programs apart from Cal-B/C can meet NDOT's analysis needs. The two projects selected for the case study were then analyzed using Cal-B/C, BCA.net, and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Redbook Wizard. The results of the analysis showed that substantial differences in results did exist when the different models were used. Cal-B/C results were the highest followed by BCA.net. The results from the AASHTO Redbook were not favorable in either analysis. The different methodologies used by the software and the level of detailed information can be attributed to the differences in results. NDOT should continue to use Cal-B/C for general transportation projects where localized benefits will be obtained but NDOT should consider using software such as BCA.net and the Surface Transportation Efficiency Analysis Model (STEAM) for projects having regional level impacts.

Framework and Tools for Estimating Benefits of Specific Freight Network Investments
Framework and Tools for Estimating Benefits of Specific Freight Network Investments

Author:

Publisher: Transportation Research Board

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 133

ISBN-13: 0309213568

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"This report provides a comprehensive analytical framework and related tools that private-sector freight transportation modes and public-sector transportation interests can use to estimate private and public benefits to evaluate potential freight infrastructure investments. Using interviews with transportation planners and an extensive review of prior research and a review of current methods used to assess freight benefits or prioritize improvement projects, the research developed a freight evaluation framework with three main functions: (1) to enhance public planning and decision-making processes regarding freight; (2) to supplement benefit/cost assessment with distributional impact measures; and (3) to advance public-private cooperation. The framework is capable of handling projects that span all of the different modes and able to assess benefits from a variety of project types, including those that improve freight operations, as well as generate more capacity through infrastructure expansion. The research, by developing a practical set of formats for information collection, will support public-private agency discussions by helping all parties understand the wide range of perspectives and interests in potential freight investments."--Pub. desc.