A Standardized Tool for Calculating Road User Benefits

The Highway User Benefit-Cost Analysis Program (HUB-CAP) provides the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) with a standardized method to quantify road user benefits/costs to the traveling public based on roadway geometric, traffic, and operating characteristics. Based on this information, the Department can determine the cost effectiveness of various alternatives including detours, temporary roadway or shoulder construction, off-peak hour day work, night work, and the most appropriate project delivery method (i.e., Incentive/Disincentive, A+B Bidding, etc.). HUB-CAP provides valuable information to the designers and project managers when determining the most appropriate construction staging and final design. This application should be used early in the design process while there is still flexibility in the design. The optimal design will mitigate or avoid disruptions before they can occur. This application can also determine future highway user benefits-costs based on future improvement needs. By understanding the major factors influencing highway user benefits-costs, the analyst can take steps to minimize the effect of any future rehabilitation activities on roadway users. This tool was developed after researching the methodologies and application used by several States’ Department of Transportations and finally chose to utilize AASHTO’s 2003 Highway User Benefit Analysis method as a starting point. AASHTO’s worksheets were modified to include before and after scenarios, look-up tables for various inputs necessary to run the tool, and consistencies in the type of required data. It consists of three main modules: (1) Value of Time Savings / Benefits (both based on ADT and hourly volumes); (2) Accident Costs / Benefits; and (3) Operating and Ownership Costs / Benefits. The HUB-CAP application has already been implemented at VDOT by area construction engineers and construction managers. This has resulted in several projects being delivered on time with substantial saving to the users and VDOT in construction duration, user costs and completion of the project on-time.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Azimi, Ed
  • Jamei, Bahram
  • Gondy, Chowdhary S
• Conference:
  • 12th National Conference on Transportation Planning for Small and Medium-Sized Communities
  • Location: Williamsburg VA, United States
  • Date: 2010-9-22 to 2010-9-24
• Publication Date: 2010

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: CD-ROM; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 12p
• Monograph Title: Tools of the Trade: 12th National Conference on Transportation Planning for Small and Medium-Sized Communities

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Highway operations; Off peak periods; Road construction; Standardization; Traffic volume; User benefits; Value of time
• Geographic Terms: Virginia
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01485233
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Jun 28 2013 9:26AM