New APTA study provides framework for measuring high-speed, intercity rail ROI
This seminal report, called "Framework for Assessing the ROI for High-Speed and Intercity Rail Projects," goes beyond the confines of the classic "benefit cost analysis" — which focuses on travel time and cost efficiency impacts.
With the nation's highways and airways stressed to near capacity, many Americans are discovering that intercity passenger rail and the promise of high-speed passenger rail service are attractive alternatives.
NCTOG_TexasCentral
2 min to read
With the nation's highways and airways stressed to near capacity, many Americans are discovering that intercity passenger rail and the promise of high-speed passenger rail service are attractive alternatives.
NCTOG_TexasCentral
A new report released by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) provides a framework for assessing the return on investment (ROI) associated with high-speed and intercity passenger rail projects (HSR&IPR). This seminal report, called "Framework for Assessing the ROI for High-Speed and Intercity Rail Projects," goes beyond the confines of the classic "benefit cost analysis" — which focuses on travel time and cost efficiency impacts.
The new analysis considers the full range of local community effects, regional connectivity and global competitiveness effects, and broader consideration of the public's desire to meet and exceed longer term environmental, economic, and mobility goals for future generations.
Ad Loading...
"For communities to get a complete picture of high-speed and intercity passenger rail and its benefits, the analysis should involve a combination of methods including a cost-benefit, an economic impact, and a social impact analysis," said Anna Barry of the Connecticut DOT and the chair of the APTA High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Committee. "This study brings important measurement elements together which will help reveal the true value of these rail projects."
Intercity passenger rail demand in the U.S. has shown an unprecedented surge in the new millennium, according to the authors of the report. Amtrak, the primary intercity rail service provider, reported an annual ridership of more than 31 million in 2016, which is 1.5 times what it was in 2000.
With the nation's highways and airways stressed to near capacity, many Americans are discovering that intercity passenger rail and the promise of high-speed passenger rail service are attractive alternatives. Prominent examples include the California, Texas, Midwest, Florida, and North Carolina to Virginia initiatives the study authors noted.
"We reviewed 47 prior studies and identified a large set of benefits related to economic, social, and environmental impacts that can apply specifically to high-speed rail and intercity rail projects," said Charles Quandel of Quandel Consultants and a member of the Technical Review Team. "This study lays out a framework for quantifying and monetizing benefits from policy perspectives that are relevant for constructing a business case for these rail projects."
The study authors emphasize that while there is continuing interest in HSR&IPR projects, this report addresses the wide disparities in how project investment benefits are measured. It goes beyond prior studies by providing consistency as to what benefit and cost elements to consider.
Ad Loading...
The "Framework for Assessing the ROI for High-Speed and Intercity Rail Projects" is an initiative of APTA's High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Committee. The report was authored by The Urban Transportation Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, with Boston’s EDR Group. To view the full report, click here.
On a recent episode of METROspectives, METRO Magazine’s Executive Editor Alex Roman sat down with Ana-Maria Tomlinson, Director of Strategic & Cross-Sector Programs at the CSA Group, to explore a bold initiative aimed at addressing those challenges: the development of a National Code for Transit and Passenger Rail Systems in Canada.
Competitive FTA grants will support accessibility upgrades, family-friendly improvements, and cost-efficient capital projects at some of the nation’s oldest and busiest transit hubs.
The 3.92-mile addition will soon take riders west beyond its current Wilshire and Western station in Koreatown, continuing under Wilshire Boulevard through neighborhoods and communities including Hancock Park, Windsor Square, the Fairfax District, and Carthay Circle into Beverly Hills.
Under the plan, all long-distance routes will transition to a universal single-level fleet, replacing today’s mix of bi-level and single-level equipment.
The milestone is a significant step toward modernizing the MAX Blue Line’s power infrastructure, one of the oldest components of the region’s light rail system.
The firm will lead the Tier 2 environmental review program for the Coachella Valley Rail Corridor, including the conceptual and preliminary engineering needed to develop project-level environmental clearance.
The ATP board’s approval of ARC enables ATP to begin pre-construction activities and advance final design for Austin Light Rail under the first phase of what will be a multibillion-dollar contract.
Additionally, construction activity is estimated to generate more than $154 million in tax revenue, including more than $20 million for Los Angeles County.
