NORTH DAKOTA RAIL LINE-SEGMENT BENEFIT-COST MODEL: NORTH DAKOTA RAIL SERVICES PLANNING STUDY

Each year, the state of North Dakota invests substantial sums of money in the rehabilitation of light-density rail lines. The funds are either drawn from a revolving loan account maintained by the North Dakota State Highway Department (NDSHD), or consist of federal grants under the Local Rail Services Assistance Act. In investing rail funds, the NDSHD is the guardian of the public interest. The scarce funds are invested so that they improve the economic welfare of the state, yielding positive or net societal benefits. An economic analysis of each potential project is typically undertaken, which assesses the benefits and costs of each alternative. The analyses are performed with the assistance of a computer model developed and maintained at the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute (UGPTI). The purpose of this paper is to highlight the scope, functions, and history of the rail analysis process, and to describe two technical publications which detail the methodology and data requirements.

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Features: References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 25 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00493660
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: UGPTI Report No. 79
  • Files: NTL, TRIS
  • Created Date: Apr 30 1990 12:00AM