Conference on Major Investment Studies in Transportation (mis)

Conference on Major Investment Studies in Transportation (mis)
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 92
Release: 1996
Genre: Transportation
ISBN:

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued joint planning regulations in response to the requirements set forth in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA). The joint planning regulations include provisions for major investment studies (MISs) where there are high-cost and high-impact transportation alternatives being considered. MIS regulations have now been in effect for more than two years. The Transportation Research Board (TRB) was asked to convene a conference of State and local planning practitioners involved in MIS activities. The conference focused on the following four topic areas: (1) policy issues; (2) the relation of MISs to the overall planning and project development process; (3) management and institutional issues affecting MISs; and (4) the transportation decision process for the MIS. This Circular contains the conference proceedings.

Traffic Demand Analysis in Major Investment Studies

Traffic Demand Analysis in Major Investment Studies
Author: John C. Brunk
Publisher:
Total Pages: 70
Release: 2000
Genre: Express highways
ISBN:

Federal regulations and guidance define major investment studies (MIS) as a flexible framework that can be tailored to provide the information needed to make local decisions about transportation investments. It is intended to enhance the planning process by requiring consideration of a broad array of alternatives and higher levels of public participation early in the process. The consideration of mobility and accessibility improvements, and operating efficiencies in the development and evaluation of alternatives is encouraged, but no particular approach or level of detail is required concerning traffic demand analysis. This project examines 13 completed MISs to identify the state-of-the-practice of traffic demand analysis employed in Texas and around the country. An examination of the methods identified was compiled in a range of analysis alternatives from planning-level down to microscopic analysis of freeway flow. Guidelines are included to help agencies conduct an MIS that adequately addresses traffic demand.

Measures of Effectiveness for Major Investment Studies

Measures of Effectiveness for Major Investment Studies
Author: Shawn Turner
Publisher:
Total Pages: 102
Release: 1996
Genre: Transportation
ISBN:

This report examines measures of effectiveness that can be used to compare the benefits and impacts of transportation improvements for a major investment study. A literature review was used to gather information about transportation performance measures and the social, economic and environmental effects of transportation. All metropolitan planning organizations within the state of Texas were surveyed to determine the state-of-the- practice for major investment studies within the state. A list of candidate measures of effectiveness for major investment studies was developed, and various judging criteria were used to qualitatively evaluate the measures. Preferred measures of effectiveness were identified that quantify the following benefits or impacts of transportation improvements: transportation performance, financial/economic performance, social impacts, land use/economic development impacts, and environmental impacts. Preferred transportation performance measures consisted mainly of person movement and travel time-based measures. Financial/economic performance measures centered around the cost effectiveness (benefit-to-cost ratio) and the financial feasibility, and considered the full costs (including externalities, or cost not borne by motorists) of transportation. Social, land use/economic development, and environmental impacts were identified, and coincided with those concerns most often expressed by citizen or community advocacy groups. Findings from the study illustrated the importance of matching the appropriate evaluation measures to the goals and objectives set forth early in the major investment study process.