Evaluating Economic Impacts of Transportation Projects

Introduction to

IDOT Fall Planning ConferenceOctober 14 -16, 2015

Purpose of This Session

• National Goals for Performance Based Planning-MAP-21-SHRP2

• IDOT Perspective on Performance Based Planning -Funding Constraints-Consideration of economic benefits in early stage planning

• Intro to EconWorks (TPICS)-Background- IDOT input to EconWorks tool-Tutorial and Discussion

National Goals for Performance Based Planning

MAP - 21 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century

• Emphasis on performance management-Improved decision-making through performance-based planning and programming

• Advances a nationally coordinated research and technology program-2nd Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2)-authorizes a percentage of SP&R funding to be used as the states’ contribution to SHRP2

National Goals for Performance Based Planning

SHRP2 Strategic Highway Research Program - fhwa.dot.gov/goshrp2

• Created by Congress to address four areas:-Safety – The role of human behavior in highway safety.-Renewal – More efficient highway project delivery.-Reliability – Congestion reduction through improved travel times.-Capacity – Improved integration of community, economic, and environmental considerations for new highway capacity

• Over 100 research projects conducted

• Results available through programs and tools & pilot projects

• EconWorks developed under SHRP2 Capacity Program (CO3)

National Goals for Performance Based Planning

IDOT Perspective on Performance Based Planning

Historical Perspective• Existing Safety, Condition and Capacity needs

are substantive and continual • Avoid economic development initiatives that are

speculative and without business commitment

New Perspective• Limited Funding Resources need to leverage

economic growth to strengthen future• Economic Impact Analyses needed to value greater societal benefits of projects

*These two perspectives are not inconsistent*

Intro to EconWorks

•SHRP2 - FHWA / TRB / AASHTO Product

•Suite of web-based tools -designed to incorporate economic analysis into early project decision making

•Available at: planningtools.transportation.org

Intro to EconWorks

“Sketch Tool”that provides:

- A searchable database of past projects and their observed impacts on economic development (Case Study Library)

- A predictive tool that estimates the range of likely impacts of proposed new projects, based on results from already-built projects existing in the case study library.

Intro to EconWorks

• Sketch Tools - - provide rough order of magnitude

• Currently about 100 Case Studies in Library

• Case Study Library & Predictive Tool remain “under-development”

IDOT Input to EconWorks

• Adding 3 Case Studies to Library- I-80 at Ridge Road Interchange (Minooka, IL)- I-57/I-64 at Veterans Memorial Drive Interchange (Mt.

Vernon, IL)- IL 255 at Gateway Commerce Center Interchange

(Edwardsville, IL)

• Feedback Regarding Use of “Assess My Project” Tool

IDOT Input to EconWorks

I-80 at Ridge Road Interchange Case Study

(Example Case Study Narrative and Data Tables In Packet)

Photo Courtesy of Dominic DeRose of Colliers International

IDOT Input to EconWorks

I-80 at Ridge Road Interchange Case Study Highlights

•Project goals were improved safety and reduced congestion

•Improvements created community support for further commercial & industrial development

•Approx 3.1 million additional sq. ft warehouse space

•Approx. 2500 jobs created

Intro to EconWorks - Tutorial

Intro to EconWorks - Tutorial

Criteria for Case Study Search

Basic Criteria:Project Type, Region of Country, Motivation, Urban/Rural Setting, Economic Distress

Other Criteria:Project Size, Cost of Project , AADT, Population Density, Proximity to Airport, Growth Rates, Project Length, Topography

Intro to EconWorks - Tutorial

Intro to EconWorks - Tutorial

Assess My Project Tool• Begin project assessment by providing setting info:

Project type, Region of Country, Urban/Rural, Economic Distress, Length of Project

• View Results:Gives estimates of AADT, Jobs, Wages and Output

Refine by using adjustment sliders for AADT, LandUse Policies, Infrastructure and Business Climate toreflect characteristics of individual projects

Intro to EconWorks - Tutorial• Project name: Herrin Road and Reed Station Road Extension• IDOT District: 9• City: Carbondale• County(s): Jackson/Williamson• Project Type: Access Road or Connector• Project Length: 4.2 miles• Project Cost: $13M (Phase I & II Eng., Land Acquisition & Construction) • Project Description: The project involves the construction of approximately 3.4 miles of new roadway that

would extend Herrin Road to the west and Reed Station Road to the north. The extension of these existing roadways would intersect near the Walker’s Bluff Development in Jackson County. Approximately 0.8 miles of existing Reed Station Road would also be widened and paved for a total improvement length of 4.2 miles.

• Purpose of Project: The proposed new roadway will provide greatly improved access to the Walkers Bluff entertainment complex and resort. The existing access road into Walkers Bluff is subject to periodic flooding from the Big Muddy River resulting in closure of the facility and temporary layoff of 200 employees for extended periods. Additionally, a major expansion of the Walker’s Bluff complex is in the planning phase, with this expansion employee and patron traffic will increase significantly resulting in even greater impacts from the recurring flooding. Additionally, there is a need to provide a supplementary east-west corridor to serve motorists that currently do not have efficient access to the region’s major transportation corridors of Illinois Route 13 and I-57. Currently, the communities of Colp/Hurst/Blairsville and portions of Herrin and Carterville access these corridors via a local road network that must also serve residential and farming needs. A Major Collector facility providing a connection from the Cambria Rd/Herrin Rd intersection to the Reed Station Rd/Vaughn Rd intersection would provide an alternative east-west corridor from I-57 to Carbondale and better serve the east-west transportation needs of the area with a route meeting major collector standards.

Intro to EconWorks - Tutorial

Intro to EconWorks - Tutorial• Project Name: I-57 at Curtis Road, southwest of Champaign• IDOT District: D5• City: Champaign, Urbana, Savoy• Counties Included in Project Area: Champaign• Project Type: New Interchange• Planned Cost: $13,000,000 / Award Cost $13,488,110.20• Project Limits: I-57 at Curtis Rd from Staley Road to Duncan Road• Project Length: 1.156 miles• Project Purpose: Site Development and Tourism

• Project Description: Construction of a new interchange at the intersection of Interstate 57 and Curtis Road and construction of the Curtis Road connection to the new interchange from Staley Road to Duncan Road. The project includes relocation of an existing gas main, removal of existing box culverts and entrance culverts along Staley Road and over the Kaskaskia Special Drainage Ditch. Construction of 6 cast-in-place box culverts, 8 precast box culverts, and 6 other smaller culverts. Placement of earthwork for the proposed alignments of Curtis Road and the entrance and exit ramps to Interstate 57. Construction of a Concrete Bulb Tee Beam structure carrying Curtis Road over Interstate 57 providing 2 at 12ft lanes, 2ft inside shoulder and 10ft outside shoulder in each direction separated by a concrete median. Construction of 0.15 miles of 24ft and varies Full-depth HMA pavement and 3ft HMA shoulders and 3ft aggregate shoulders along Curtis Road west of Staley Road. Widening 0.7 miles of existing Curtis Road from Staley Road to Duncan Road to provide 2 at 24ft and varies pavement separated by a non-traversable median. Widening 0.38 miles of existing Staley Road at Curtis Road to provide 2 at 12ft through lanes, a 12ft left-turn lane and 12ft right turn lane and 3ft HMA shoulders. Construction of 1.9 miles of Full-depth HMA pavement at entrance and exit ramps to provide 16ft pavement, 4ft HMA and 2ft aggregate inside shoulder and 6ft HMA and 2ft aggregate outside shoulder. Installation of lighting, signing, striping, tree planting, and seeding

Intro to EconWorks - Tutorial

Intro to EconWorks - Tutorial• Project Name: US 150 Eastbound War Memorial Drive McClugage Bridge Project• IDOT District: 4 • City: Peoria• Counties Included in Project Area: Peoria, Tazewell• Project Type: Bridge• Project Motivation: Congestion Mitigation & safety• Actual Cost: $170,000,000• Project Limits: Adams Street to IL 116• Project Length: 1 mile

• Project Description: The McClugage Bridge was originally designed in 1939. The two-lane bridge was completed in 1948 following World War II. It allowed traffic to travel east and west across the Illinois River. The McClugage Bridge has been repaired several times since 1964, with a major rehabilitation in 1999.In 1982, an additional three-lane bridge with a similar look and style to the original McClugage Bridge was added immediately north of the existing structure. This northern bridge currently carries westbound traffic, while the original southern structure now carries eastbound traffic. Although the eastbound US 150 bridge has been rehabilitated, the basic structure is more than seven decades old and is approaching the end of its serviceable life. It is not up-to-date with current design standards or safety criteria. Weather, vehicle use, age, and salt used in snow removal have also caused it to deteriorate. The average daily traffic use of over 20,000 eastbound vehicles predicts that the current two-lane bridge will be insufficient for accommodating future traffic needs. Furthermore, the needs of cyclists and pedestrians must be considered since this bridge is a major crossing point over the Illinois River. The additional lane and accommodation considerations could mean the current 30-foot wide bridge could significantly widen. The combination of all these factors indicates the need for another rehabilitation, or complete reconstruction, of the eastbound bridge structure.

Intro to EconWorks - Tutorial

Intro to EconWorks - Feedback

Thoughts and Observations?

Comments or Questions?

Wrap Up

Thank you