ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF HIGHWAY RELIEF ROUTES ON SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZE COMMUNITIES: CASE STUDIES

Highway relief routes may have a variety of impacts on small- and medium-size communities, both positive and negative. On the positive side, communities benefit from a reduction in traffic through the heart of the community and the negative impacts such traffic brings, including noise, emissions, and safety concerns. However, the reduction in through traffic may also have negative impacts on businesses in the community, particularly highway-oriented businesses located along the old route that are dependent on pass-by traffic. The negative impacts on local businesses may be partly offset by new development occurring along the highway relief route. How these impacts play out in a particular community depends on the characteristics of the community and the new relief route, as well as larger economic and industry trends. The purpose of this study is to identify and understand the various factors that influence the economic impacts of highway relief routes on small- and medium-size communities. This report presents case studies of ten small- and medium-size communities in Texas and analyzes the extent and nature of the impacts of the relief routes and the key factors determining those impacts.