Recommended Citation
Chacon-Hurtado, D., R. Yang, E. Bardaka, K. Gkritza, and J. Fricker. EconWorks Tools for Assessing the Wider Economic Benefits of Transportation Implementation Assistance. Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 2016. https://doi.org/10.5703/1288284316553
DOI
10.5703/1288284316553
Date of this Version
3-2016
Keywords
capacity improvements, wider economic benefits, reliability, accessibility, intermodal connectivity, sketch planning
Abstract
The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is undertaking efforts to assess the potential economic development benefits associated with highway corridor improvements at the middle-stage planning level. The primary objective of this research is to demonstrate and document the use of the EconWorks W.E.B. (wider economic benefits) tools for assessing the wider economic benefits (reliability, accessibility, and intermodal connectivity) of transportation projects in the State of Indiana. A parallel analysis of selected projects using TREDIS was also conducted in order to compare the relative merit or synergies between the tools.
In the short term, the implementation of this study will consist of a set of training sessions for INDOT and MPOs. These sessions will cover the theoretical background as well as demonstrate the use of the EconWorks W.E.B. tools. In the long-term, INDOT plans to use the EconWorks Connectivity tool on projects that provide linkages to multimodal facilities. INDOT has also identified future studies where the economic impacts of recommended strategies can be estimated using the EconWorks W.E.B. tools. Available staff resources and staff training in economic modeling were indicated as key challenges to a wide implementation of these tools.
Comments
This report also serves as the Phase I interim report for SPR-3912.