BENEFIT ESTIMATES FOR RECREATIONAL RE-USE OF ABANDONED RAILROAD RIGHTS-OF-WAY

The abandonment of a significant lengths of railroad right- of-way often provides land which can be re-used for a variety of activities or purposes. Recreational re-use, particularly in the form of bicycle trails, is especially attractive as one alternative re-use of railroad abandonments. Some form of cost-benefit analysis is often suggested as a means of choosing between conflicting alternative uses of a specific resource. The application of the standard cost-benefit techniques to recreation is extremely difficult due primarily to a number of measurement problems. In the case of a specific recreation activity such as bicycle trail use the measurement problems are compounded as a result of a lack of empirical information. This report reviews the problems associated with attempts to determine values for non-priced goods and services in general and recreation in particular. A procedure for estimating minimum benefit values which accrue from the recreational re-use (bicycle trails) of railroad abandonments is presented. Finally, through a test application of the procedure a number of methological refinements are suggested and discussed.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Iowa, Iowa City

  Institute of Urban and Regional Research
  Iowa City, IA  United States  52242
• Authors:
  • Joyal, A N
• Publication Date: 1975-3

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 27 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Abandonment; Benefit cost analysis; Land use; Recreation; Right of way (Land)
• Subject Areas: Economics; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00153378
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: University of Iowa, Iowa City
• Report/Paper Numbers: No. 40 Tech. Rpt.
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 17 1977 12:00AM