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.

Current Practices for Assessing Economic Development Impacts from Transportation Investments

Current Practices for Assessing Economic Development Impacts from Transportation Investments
Author: Glen Weisbrod
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
Total Pages: 88
Release: 2000
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780309068734

This synthesis report will be of interest to DOT administrators, supervisors, and staff, as well as to the consultants working with them in assessing the economic development impacts of existing or proposed transportation investments. Metropolitan Planning Organization regional and local staffs might also find it informative. It is intended to help practicing planners become aware of the range of methods and analysis techniques available, organized by the different categories of agency needs, to address different types of planning, policy, and research needs. This synthesis summarizes the current state of the practice by means of a survey of transportation planning agencies in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. This report provides reviews of the analysis methods used in recent project and program evaluation reports of these agencies, in addition to a bibliography of economic literature and guides.