Federal Transit Administration s s Alternatives Analysis Process

Transcription

1 Federal Transit Administration s s Alternatives Analysis Process World Bank Transport Forum March 28, 2006 Ronald Fisher USDOT Federal Transit Administration

2 Topics Overview of New Starts Program Planning and project development process Evaluation approach 2

3 New Starts Program Parameters Over $1.5 billion annually for fixed guideway transit investments Current pipeline: 20 projects in PE and Final Design Total cost of pipeline: >$26.7 billion, $13.2 billion from Fed. New Starts Program FTA tracking >120 planning studies considering major rapid transit capital investments Potential $30B+ of additional projects in process 3

4 New Starts Program Parameters Discretionary Federal transit financial assistance Alternatives analysis required All planning and project development studies conducted by local agencies, not FTA Multiple evaluation criteria for project justification Local financial commitment counts 4

5 Program Over-Sight Goals Identify and fund most meritorious projects in pipeline Ensure objective, transparent local analysis of range of transit improvements Develop reliable information on project benefits, costs and impacts Ensure projects treated equitably across nation 5

6 Ongoing Multi-Modal Network Planning Alternatives Analysis Planning and Project Development Process Preliminary Engineering /Design Final Engin. /Design Construction 6

7 Decisions at Conclusion of Each Phase of Planning and Project Development Ongoing Multi-Modal Network Planning selection of rapid transit priority corridor(s) Alternatives analysis selection of rapid transit mode and alignment Preliminary engineering/design final scope/cost, completion of environmental assessment, financial plan Final engineering/design construction documents Full Funding Grant Agreement, Construction 7

8 Alternatives Analysis Steps 1. Identification of corridor problems, project purpose and need, goals and objectives 2. Development of a range of alternatives that address causes of transportation problems 3. Analysis of costs, benefits, and impacts of alternatives 4. Refinement of Alternatives 5. Evaluation of alternatives 6. Decision 8

9 AA Guiding Principals Early and ongoing participation by a wide range of stakeholders; Two-way communications Determination of underlying causes of corridor problems Sufficient level of analysis to select mode, general alignment, terminii Development of alternatives that isolate the costs and benefits of capital investment in guideways Documentation and broad desemination of key study findings at each step 9

10 The FTA New Starts Evaluation and Rating Framework Summary Rating Financial Rating Project Justification Rating 10

11 Justification Rating Factors Cost Effectiveness Cost Effectiveness Mobility Improvements Environmental Benefits Improvement in operating efficiency Land-use effects Benefits for low-income households Other factors as needed or directed 11

12 Base Case Improved systems management and operations, modest investments Not doing nothing Not current trends Levels playing field Fills investment gap between doing nothing and high cost alternatives Provides incentive for incremental development 12

13 Constant Policy Setting Land Use Parking Costs Transit service frequencies and coverage Transit fares Transit service levels outside corridor Highway networks 13

14 Basic Cost-Effectiveness Criterion Cost per unit of benefit: Cost measure: total annualized incremental cost compared to base case - capital includes federal, local, any private - Total includes annual operating, maintenance Benefit measure: hours of transportation benefits, including consumer surplus 14

15 Source of Transportation Benefits of New Starts Projects Highway users: benefits from less congestion due to travelers changing from driving to transit due to (New Starts) investment Current transit users: benefits from faster travel times with (New Starts) investment for compared to their previous transit mode New transit users: benefits from faster travel times due to investment 15

16 Calculation of Transportation Benefits for New Starts Projects Highway Users: not determined because of serious travel model difficulties in quantifying degree of congestion relief Transit users: benefits from faster travel times for all travelers in the region In-vehicle time Walk and wait time Number of transfers Capacity constraints Reliability, comfort, security, branding 16

17 Cost-Effectiveness Criterion Rating Values: Low >$28 per hour Medium-low $22 - $27.99 per hour Medium $14 - $21.99 per hour Medium-high $11 - $13.99 per hour High < $10.99 per hour 17

18 Land Use Rating Criteria Character of Existing Land Use Transit-supportive Plans and Policies Growth Management Transit-supportive Corridor Policies Supportive Zoning Regulations Near Transit Stations Tools to Implement Land Use Policies 18

19 Land Use Rating Criteria (Contd.) Performance and Impacts of Policies Performance of Land Use Policies Potential Impact of Transit Investment on Regional Land Use Other Land Use Considerations 19

20 Local Financial Commitment Stability and reliability of capital financing plan Stability and reliability of operations and maintenance financing plan Non-Section 5309 New Starts share (overmatch) 20

21 Key Financial Review Considerations Demonstrated non-new Starts funding commitments Reasonable cost, revenue, and other estimates Reasonable planning assumptions Demonstrated financial capacity Complete project, cover contingencies Operate and maintain entire system, not just New Start project 21