This section defines and explains how to calculate several measures that are typically used to summarize benefit-cost analyses:
The section also discusses the graphical representation of each measure and how these relate to each other.
Choosing MeasuresThe most appropriate method depends on the circumstances and agencies may choose to use multiple measures.
ExamplesDecision: Which highway project to construct first
Goal: Maximize net public benefit Type of measure: Benefit-cost ratio, to be compared across highway projects in order to rank them Decision: Whether a new transit route should be instituted Decision: How to spend a given transit maintenance budget Decision: What measures to pursue to lower aircraft noise to required levels SourcesDfT (2006), Transport Analysis Guidance, Integrated Transport Economics and Appraisal, UK Department for Transport (www.webtag.org.uk/index.htm). Todd Litman (2001), What’s It Worth? Life Cycle and Benefit/Cost Analysis for Evaluating Economic Value, Presented at Internet Symposium on Benefit-Cost Analysis, Transportation Association of Canada (www.tac-atc.ca); at www.vtpi.org/worth.pdf. Todd Litman (2003), “Measuring Transportation: Traffic, Mobility and Accessibility,” ITE Journal (www.ite.org), Vol. 73, No. 10, October, pp. 28-32; at www.vtpi.org/measure.pdf. LTNZ (2010), Economic Evaluation Manual (EEM), Land Transport New Zealand (www.landtransport.govt.nz); at www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/results.html?catid=401. Michael Meyer and Richard Schuman (2002), “Transportation Performance Measures and Data,” ITE Journal (www.ite.org), November 2002, pp. 48-49; based on Measuring System Performance: The Keys to Establishing Operations as a Core Agency Mission, Office of Operations, Federal Highway Administration (www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/nat_dialogue.htm).Gerald Wilde (1984), “On the Choice of the Denominator in the Calculation of Crash Rates,” in S. Yager (ed.), Transport Risk Assessment, University of Waterloo Press (Waterloo). |