The economic evaluation of heavy vehicle rest areas: a new technique?

The provision of well planned heavy vehicle rest areas is fundamental to the efficient and safe operation of interstate freight routes. Over the last five years the Federal Government has championed the use of economic appraisal and cost benefit analysis as an analytical technique to advise on the merit of these road side facilities. As a case study example, this paper will revisit the methods used in undertaking an economic appraisal of a program of heavy vehicle rest areas in Central Queensland during 2012. Unlike other road projects, considered thought around impact and effect is required not only at the route level but at the link level also. With the main objective of these facilities being largely to do with addressing heavy vehicle driver fatigue and compliance with transport legislation, an approach based on safety, accident history and severity would normally be warranted in order to identify and measure benefits. This paper will also contain a discussion of those additional benefits, especially comfort and convenience and also consequential impacts on productivity. This paper will then focus on those ways/methods which can be used to strengthen these appraisals, and also consider what sort of data needs would one would expect given the types of economic and social objectives that the jurisdictions are trying to address with these types of projects.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.atrf.info/papers/2013/index.aspx
• Authors:
  • Campbell, S
• Conference:
  • Australasian Transport Research Forum (ATRF), 36th, 2013, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
• Publication Date: 2013-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 13p
• Monograph Title: Transport and the new world city: 36th Australasian Transport Research Forum (ATRF), October 2nd-4th 2013, Brisbane

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Case studies; Drivers; Heavy vehicles; Rest periods; Roadside rest areas
• Uncontrolled Terms: Safe systems (road users); Service areas
• Geographic Terms: Australia; Queensland
• ATRI Terms: Case study; Cost benefit analysis; Heavy vehicle driver; Rest period; Service area
• ITRD Terms: 8531: Case study; 1236: Lorry
• Subject Areas: Highways; Terminals and Facilities; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01503312
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Jan 6 2014 10:58AM