Houston-harte of San Angelo: A case study application of a full-cost model for evaluating urban passenger transportation. Interim research report

Technical Report · Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:432732

Smith, K M; Qin, J; Weissmann, J; Euritt, M A; Martello, M T

This report evaluates the full costs of transportation alternatives on the Houston-Harte Corridor in San Angelo, Texas. The alternatives examined include those considered by the San Angelo District of the Texas Department of Transportation, which are: (1) the continuation of the existing frontage lanes-only configuration and (2) the construction of the mainlanes for completion of the facility. In addition, this study considers each of the above alternatives with transit service along the corridor, resulting in the third and fourth scenarios. The results of MODECOST - a computer model developed by a Center for Transportation Research (CTR) team -- indicate that the addition of mainlanes to the Houston-Harte Corridor is both feasible and cost effective. The case studies conducted as part of this project show that, in many cases, the costs borne by users are equally or more significant than the facility cost in determining the cost implications of various transportation alternatives. The external costs, depending on the volumes of traffic expected along the corridor, may also be substantial. Demonstrating this complex relationship, this case study showed that the capital-intensive Houston-Harte project was, over time, more cost effective than no facility. This study also shows that full-cost analysis is an effective tool for comparing transportation alternatives. Full-cost analysis provides a value for each alternative that may be used as an assessment indicator to policy-makers and transportation professionals.

• Research Organization: Texas Univ., Austin, TX (United States). Center for Transportation Research
• OSTI ID: 432732
• Report Number(s): PB-97-124697/XAB; TRN: 70211518
• Resource Relation: Other Information: DN: Also pub. as Texas Univ. at Austin. Center for Transportation Research rept. Nos. RR-1356-4 and CTR-0-1356-4; PBD: Apr 1996
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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