BENEFITS MATRIX MODEL FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECT EVALUATION

A procedure for evaluating proposed urban highway projects that can serve as a framework for establishing statewide construction priorities is described. Guidelines are provided for local officials who need to select and establish priorities for projects on an urban-area basis. The sequential steps followed in the research methodology included evaluation of previously developed priority models, definition of criteria for the model, building the models, and application and testing of the model by using candidate urban highway projects from three North Carolina test cities: New Bern, Kinston, and Durham. A benefits matrix model for transportation project evaluation was developed during the study. The model consists of five elements designed to provide the decision maker with relevant project evaluation information that directly relates to transportation planning objectives. These five elements are user benefits, cost, economic development potential, environmental impact, and relationship of the project to the state arterial system. Evaluation of the model indicated that it can be used at both the local and state levels to analyze a wide range of urban highway projects. The model can also be used to evaluate rural highway projects and, with some modifications, projects involving other transportation modes. (Author)