00796908

Component

http://onlinepubs.trb.org.../conf/1999/cp21/21-010.pdf

When facing an investment decision, one of the most productive ways to choose among competing alternatives is through a decision hierarchy that interrelates policy objectives, programs, and individual project alternatives. In this idealized model, the first step is to identify the policy objectives and related selection criteria that should govern the decision. The second step is to establish programs with goals that support these policy objectives; these programs determine the array of individual projects from which to choose. The third and final step is to use a rigorous project selection methodology in order to make a final investment decision. Political and social goals always will affect the decision-making process, and it is unrealistic to expect that a mechanistic approach to project selection always will prevail. However, good information and rigorous analysis can help remove some of the political constraints to sound decision making. As one applies the decision hierarchy to a particular investment dilemma, the most typical way to examine the relative merits of alternative investments is benefit-cost analysis. Following this presentation are the findings of three working groups that developed a combined list of 13 research proposals on the topic of economic evaluation for transportation decision making.

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00796898

English

p. 41-43

2000

Transportation Research Board Conference Proceedings

Information Requirements for Transportation Economic Analysis

0309071240

Digital/other

Benefit cost analysis; Decision making; Economic analysis; Investments; Political factors; Transportation planning

Economics; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning

TRIS, TRB

Aug 4 2000 12:00AM

• ESTIMATING REVENUES FROM USER CHARGES, TAXES, AND FEES: IDENTIFYING INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS
• ESTIMATION OF REVENUES FROM USE CHARGES, TAXES, AND OTHER SOURCES OF INCOME
• HOW LEVELS OF INVESTMENT IN TRANSPORTATION AFFECT ECONOMIC HEALTH
• HOW LEVELS OF TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENT AFFECT ECONOMIC HEALTH
• IMPORTANCE OF TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION: CANADA'S EXPERIENCE
• INFORMATION FOR TRANSPORTATION ECONOMIC ANALYSIS: STATE OF THE ART AND RELEVANCE FOR DECISION MAKING
• RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN ECONOMIC INFORMATION: ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AT THE STATE, METROPOLITAN, AND PROJECT LEVELS
• RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN ECONOMIC INFORMATION: RATE OF RETURN AND PRODUCTIVITY STUDIES, COMMODITY AND PASSENGER FLOW DATA, AND AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY
• RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN ECONOMIC INFORMATION: TRANSPORTATION SATELLITE ACCOUNTS AND CAPITAL STOCKS ACCOUNTS
• RELEVANCE OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS FOR DECISION MAKING: IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATING RESEARCH RESULTS
• SELECTING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS: INFORMATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
• STRATEGIES FOR MEASURING PRODUCTIVE HIGHWAY CAPITAL STOCKS
• TRANSPORTATION CONDITIONS: A TOP CONCERN OF THE PUBLIC
• WHY INFORMATION MATTERS: GETTING THE MESSAGE ACROSS ABOUT TRANSPORTATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
• WHY INFORMATION MATTERS: WEST VIRGINIA: A RURAL POINT OF VIEW