What's New in Economics

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has released a report that examines nearly 3,000 general aviation airports, heliports, and seaplane bases and highlights the role general aviation airports play in society, the economy, and the aviation system.

TRB standing committees have issued  calls for papers for the TRB 92nd Annual Meeting, January 13-17, 2013, in Washington, D.C, and the Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board (TRR). While papers addressing any relevant aspect of transportation research will be considered, some committees are soliciting papers in specific subject areas to help potential...

TRB’s second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2) has released a project brief that highlights Transportation Project Impact Case Studies (T-PICS). T-PICS is a web-based tool designed to allow for economic impacts to more easily be considered during community visioning for transportation, or during public and stakeholder involvement for long-range system planning or corridor planning. Vi...

TRB’s Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Report 64: Handbook for Evaluating Emissions and Costs of APUs and Alternative Systems is designed to help airports evaluate alternatives to aircraft auxiliary power units (APUs). The handbook addresses environmental impacts, costs, infrastructure and maintenance requirements, and funding options. The printed version of the handbook includes a C...

TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis 424: Engineering Economic Analysis Practices for Highway Investment explores how U.S. transportation agencies have applied engineering economics--benefit–cost analyses and similar procedures--to decisions on highway investments.

Join more than 150 transportation professionals expected to participate in the 2012 TRB Planning Committee Summer Meeting, July 8-10, 2012, in Irvine, California. Transportation professionals specializing in planning, policy, and data systems will share information in open committee meetings, joint collaborative discussions, and general sessions. Advance registration expires June 8, 2...

The Reason Foundation has released an annual report that explores global and American-led efforts to finance surface transportation projects through private funding.

The Reason Foundation has released an annual report that explores global and American-led efforts to privatize the airline industry.

TRB is sponsoring the Economic Census: Uses for the Transportation Community Workshop on July 17, 2012, in Washington, D.C. The workshop is designed to enhance awareness and use of economic census data among transportation professionals at the federal, state, regional, and local levels; identify follow-up activities to support the sharing of information on the experience and use of the economic...

Roundabouts have seen unprecedented growth across the United States, from just a handful a decade ago to more than 2,000 and counting. National guidance had to keep pace with the needs of states and communities planning and implementing roundabouts, and NCHRP took a lead role.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office has released a report that explores the mobility, economic, and environmental benefits of the cancelled Hudson River Tunnel Project; the project cost estimates over time; and how documents prepared as part of the Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts process addressed potential cost growth for the project.

TRB’s National Cooperative Freight Research Program (NCFRP) Report 15: Dedicated Revenue Mechanisms for Freight Transportation Investment explores methods that might be used to raise revenue to support government investment in freight transportation facilities, primarily for highway transportation. The report assesses revenue-generating mechanisms such as motor-vehicle fuel tax surcharges, vehi...

The latest issue of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) quarterly Transport Newsletter is now available. UNCTAD promotes the development-friendly integration of developing countries into the world economy.

The Mineta Transportation Institute has released a report that explores the extent to which previously-developed performance measures have the potential to evaluate transportation investments and policy decisions that optimize transportation, environmental, economic, and equity outcomes.

In regions across the nation, bridge engineers know that the next major seismic event is coming—maybe tomorrow, maybe centuries from now. DOTs have the critical charge of designing for earthquakes and protecting the lives of travelers.

The U.S. Department of Treasury has released a report that explores the potential economic affects of infrastructure investment.

The Institute of Transport Economics has released a report that explores the potential for electric road vehicles to become competitive alternatives to the internal combustion-engine car, if electricity is practical and economically feasible for cars, and what kind of electric vehicles would be best suited for Norway.

The National Association of Counties has released a report that summarizes the results of a survey that explored the current conditions of county roads and bridges and how the recent economic slowdown has affected construction and maintenance funding.

The Florida Department of Transportation has released a report that highlights innovative transportation planning and regional cooperation approaches that Florida might use to meet its 2060 Transportation Plan.  The state’s new plan calls for fundamental changes in how and where the state invests in transportation so as to make its economy more competitive, communities more livable, and en...

The Mineta Transportation Institute has released a report that explores the roles of first- and second-tier cites along the proposed high-speed rail corridor in California.

Airports Council International – North America has released a report that summarizes the contribution that the 490 commercial airports in the United States make to the national economy.

TRB’s second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2) has released a Capacity Projects Brief, which summarizes the status of products being produced within the Capacity area of SHRP 2. The objective of Capacity Research in SHRP 2 is to develop tools for systematically integrating environmental, economic, and community requirements into the analysis, planning, and design of new highway c...

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials has released a report that explores passenger rail ridership and its link to economic development.

The Center for Neighborhood Technology has released a report that builds upon the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s GO TO 2040 plan and provides a framework that prioritizes specific places and projects that connect people to jobs.

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation has released a report that addresses the state of the federal government’s historic properties and their contribution to local economic development.

The latest issue of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) quarterly Transport Newsletter is now available. UNCTAD promotes the development-friendly integration of developing countries into the world economy.

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety has released a report that explores the cost of motor vehicle crashes and explores the traffic safety laws of all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The Oregon Department of Transportation has released a report that highlights a set of decision-making tools designed to help determine if accelerated bridge construction is potentially more effective than traditional construction for a given bridge replacement or rehabilitation project.

TRIP, a national transportation research group, has released a report that examines recent transportation and economic trends in Maine and provides information on the transportation projects in the state that could help support economic growth.

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics, a part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration, has updated its report that examines transportation indicators that provide context about the economy and society in which transportation functions, or that convey information about system-wide or specific aspects of transportation.