Transportation & Economic Development

Our practice

Economic Development Research Group (EDR Group) is a leader in evaluating economic development consequences of transportation projects and policies. We continue to develop and apply new and improved methods for identifying economic effects of transportation projects, through guidebooks, analysis tools and application studies for clients in North America, Europe and Africa. These applications span airports, seaports, highways, public transport systems, rail systems and non-motorized modes of travel. They deal with issues of job access, business market access, business production costs, household cost of living, local spending patterns, project construction effects, and investment priorities.

Our work is used for environmental impact assessments, benefit-cost studies, project planning and prioritization programs. These projects typically make use of survey, interview and economic assessment tools which we have developed specifically for evaluating the economic development consequences of transportation projects.

Our experience

Methods for Assessing National Transport Policies
Synthesis of Current Practice on Economic Development Impacts of Transportation, Methods for Measuring Economic Impacts of Highway Projects for FHWA, Economic Impacts of National Highway Spending for FHWA, Highway Congestion Impacts for NCHRP, Impacts of Highway Access Restrictions for NCHRP, Issues in Assessing Transportation Investments in Netherlands, UK, Australia and Finland

Economic Impacts of Local & Regional Highway Projects
Economic impact of: North Country Corridor in New York, Zachary Taylor Pkwy in Louisiana, SR-69 in Kentucky, I-69 in Southwest Indiana , I-86 in W. New York, Continental 1 in Pennsylvania, Highway Interchanges in Kalamazoo and Philadelphia, River Crossings in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Ohio, Urban Freeways in Evansville and Roanoke, International Gateway access in Vancouver (Canada), M10 Extension (Scotland), Hwy 29 (Wisconsin), Guidebook for Identifying Local Economic Opportunities from Appalachian Development Highways.

Economic Impacts of Rail & Bus Transportation Programs
High Speed Train Service in California, Canada and Northeast Corridor of US, New Downeaster Rail Line in Maine, Freight Rail Yard Reconfiguration in Chicago, National Study of Freight Rail-Truck Decisions and Impacts, Rail Facility Needs and Impacts for Vancouver BC, Economic Impacts of Public Transit for APTA, Local and Regional Economic Impacts of Public Transport for Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia, International Study of Rail Transit and Downtown Development in Europe, Asia and N. America

Economic Impacts of Airport & Seaport Improvements
Statewide Airport Benefit-Cost System for Wisconsin, Economic Benefits of Airports for Oregon, Colorado, Virginia, Michigan, Vermont, and Massachusetts, Economic Impact of Boston, Nashville, and West Bend Airports, Airport Expansion impact in Pretoria (South Africa), Benefit-Cost of Rock County Cargo Airport, Air Cargo Economic Impact for Baltimore-Washington Airport, Statewide Aviation Tax Revenue Forecasting for Wisconsin, Airport Economic Development Opportunities for Osaka (Japan) and Glasgow (Scotland), Economic Impacts of Seaports in Florida and Vancouver, BC.

Descriptions of selected projects.
Aviation and Economic Development
Ground Transportation and Economic Development

Our articles and models

Staff of EDR Group pioneered the application of regional economic forecasting tools to assess potential future impacts of highway and public transport investments. We have developed new systems to help state agencies conduct benefit-cost assessment and prioritization of airport and highway projects, and to help local areas identify business growth opportunities associated with access improvements. Click below for descriptions of our Transport - Economic Impact Models.

ABC - Airport Project Impacts and Benefit/Cost
ADE - Land Use and Development Around Airports
TREDIS - Multi-modal Economic Development Impact & Benefit/Cost
LEAP-trans - Business Attraction from Access Improvements