A methodology and simple model for use in benefit-cost analysis of highway projects are described for calculating the variable per mile costs of operating cars and trucks. Although the marginal vehicle operating costs generated by changes to trip mileage or operating conditions are typically a small part of total project costs, they can be significant in deciding among alternative designs, construction scenarios, or project timing. Operating costs for personal vehicles (autos, pickups, SUVs, vans) are developed primarily from consumer guides, with an overall fleet average cost based on vehicle sales. Operating costs for large commercial trucks are based on a review of a number of sources of trucking costs. Factors for adjusting the costs based on stop-start conditions, pavement roughness, and inflation are derived from various sources. Results are that in a "baseline" case of highway driving on smooth pavement, with a fuel price of $1.50 per gallon and other costs in 2003 dollars, personal vehicles averag...

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Per Mile Costs of Operating Automobiles and Trucks

Battery-electric transit bus developments and operations: A review

Infrastructure investments and entrepreneurial dynamism in the U.S.

This paper provides a description of how decisions concerning transportation programmes and projects can be made in the context of sustainable transportation. It provides information on identifying appropriate performance measures for sustainable transportation and then quantifying these measures with a traffic simulation model (CORSIM) as well as transportation environmental models. The quantified performance measures were then used with three decision making methodologies. The test bed used for this study comprised a transportation corridor in Tshwane, South Africa and one in Houston, Texas. A method based on the multi-attribute utility theory (MAUT) techniques was found to be the best because a broad range of quantitative and qualitative sustainability issues can be included in the decision-making process. In addition, the disaggregate approach proposed in this paper made it possible for decisions to be made at the individual link level.

http://cost356.inrets.fr/pub/reference/reports/Zietsman_IJMDM_06.pdf

Transportation corridor decision-making with multi-attribute utility theory

In recent decades, owing to a series of public debt crises and constraints on government expenditure, infrastructure investment has dropped significantly in both developed and developing countries. To counterbalance this trend, Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) schemes have been increasingly adopted. In this paper, we explore the determinants of the degree of private participation in transport infrastructure projects in a large sample of developing countries. By using a large sample of transport projects included in the World Bank Private Participation in Infrastructure Projects database, we document that greater participation by private parties in PPP contracts is associated with better institutions in terms of lower corruption, civil freedom, and a better regulatory framework.

Quality of institutions and private participation in transport infrastructure investment: Evidence from developing countries ☆

The effect of highway bypass construction on small cities is analyzed. While important, previous research work on this topic is not conclusive. This previous work, along with case study analyses, provided the foundation for establishing a basic framework for examining the impacts of bypass. An econometric for various business sectors demonstrates that other non-bypass variables are important determinants to business activity in small cities and towns. The results do suggest that bypasses have a marginally negative effect on retail sales volumes.

Economic impacts of highway bypasses

Highway finance and the private sector: Issues and alternatives

Full-cost analyses are being used increasingly within the transportation community to evaluate modal alternatives. Full costs include the costs to users, public agencies, and society (external costs). A working model to estimate the full costs of different transportation modes at the corridor, network, and project levels—one allowing for cross-modal comparisons and easy calibration to local conditions—is presented. The computerized model (MODECOST) is designed to provide assistance to metropolitan planning organizations, transit authorities, and regional and municipal authorities in making cross-modal cost comparisons of transportation alternatives.

Evaluating the full costs of urban passenger transportation

This report addresses a primary dilemma of the transportation planning community, namely, how to evaluate and compare urban passenger transportation projects regardless of mode. After identifying the full-cost approach as an effective tool for undertaking such comparisons, this report describes MODECOST, a full-cost evaluation model developed by the Center for Transportation Research (CTR) of the University of Texas at Austin. Although many of the issues that MODECOST addresses have been considered previously during the transportation investment decision process, MODECOST quantifies the costs inherent to each issue.

Full-cost analysis of urban passenger transportation

Texas is the nation's highest energy consumer, and it is the highest emitter of carbon dioxide. Texans consume 23 percent more energy per capita on transportation than the nation as a whole. The state's contribution to global climate stabilization and local environmental quality requires reexamination of its transportation system. In this study, four scenarios were constructed reflecting different energy strategies that Texas could pursue to address these issues. These alternative scenarios were measured against a reference scenario that reflects current trends in transport policy. The first alternative, a "roll-back" scenario, examined the consequences of revoking the current alternative fuels programs. Moderate, aggressive and visionary scenarios were also developed consisting of increasingly aggressive policies to reduce energy consumption and emissions. Included in the analyses are various transportation control measures, employee trip-reduction programs, broader use of telecommunications technologies...

M A Euritt

Papers

Economic impacts of highway bypasses

Highway finance and the private sector: Issues and alternatives

Evaluating the full costs of urban passenger transportation

Full-cost analysis of urban passenger transportation

Strategies for reducing energy consumption and emissions in texas transportation sector