External link: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/Programs/ResearchDocuments/SPR760_TCIFinalReport.pdf

Publication date: February 1, 2016

Capsule summary: This report introduces implementation strategies for the Transportation Cost Index (TCI) as a tool that standardizes performance measurement.

Author(s): Wang, Liming; Liu, Jenny

Publisher(s): Oregon Department of Transportation Research Section; FHWA

Definition: Planning practices for pedestrians, bikes and transit
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Definition: Data analysis techniques for transportation planning
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Definition: Governmental agency focused on transportation
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Description: As new federal regulations place greater value on performance measures, the value of performance measurement standards that are relevant to a broad range of communities increases. By using travel cost models, communities can access an element of choice and inform their decisions based on their potential performance in reaching their transportation network’s goals. The project addresses the concept of “travel market baskets” and travel cost calculations when estimating costs in a multi-modal network.

Objectives: The objective of this research is to develop robust definitions that can be used in communities with various needs, goals, and network models, in order to facilitate the dissemination and extended use of the TCI. Additionally, this research intends to develop robust methods that generalize the calculation of travel costs so that more communities may be reached by the tool, taking into account factors such as multimodality and diversity of income between communities.

Findings: The research team found that successful approaches to TCI implementation are data intensive, and dependent upon robust datasets. The team observed that a survey-based approach was an effective method for observing a system’s history of travel costs for users, while a cluster-based approach facilitated analysis of geographical density of activity within a community.

Recommendations: Based on their analysis and applications of various methods, the research team recommends implementation of a survey-based approach and/or a cluster-based approach, depending on the intended use of the TCI. The team determined that the methods are applicable in many contexts and serve to facilitate trend monitoring and scenario evaluation, thus demonstrating their value to transportation planners.

Research Theme: Innovative Data Analysis, Planning for Pedestrians, Bikes, and Transit

Community Type:

Transportation Mode:

Planning Scope:

Organization Type: City, County, DOT

Planning Subject: Analysis, Evaluation and Assessment, Forecasting, Performance Management, Planning Methods