EVALUATING MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION STRATEGIES USING BENEFIT-COST ANALYSIS

In 1995, the FHWA developed a corridor sketch planning tool called the Sketch Planning Analysis Spreadsheet Model (SPASM) to assist planners in developing the type of economic efficiency and other evaluative information needed for comparing cross-modal and demand management strategies. When more detailed analysis is required, however, SPASM cannot be used directly, owing to several simplifying assumptions. For example, all trips are assumed to be of an average trip length, made between the two ends of the corridor. Also, it is difficult to use SPASM for systemwide analysis. To allow more detailed analysis, FHWA has developed an enhanced version of SPASM, called the Surface Transportation Efficiency Analysis Model (STEAM). The software is currently undergoing field testing.