Economics

This Technical Summary pertains to Report 2015-02, “Transportation Planning to Support Economic Development: An Exploratory Study of Competitive Industry Clusters and Transportation in Minnesota,” published January 2015.

This Technical Summary pertains to Report 2013-03, “Case Studies of Transportation Investment to Identify the Impacts on the Local and State Economy,” published January 2013.

This Technical Summary pertains to Report 2012-03, “Economic and Environmental Costs and Benefits of Living Snow Fences: Safety, Mobility, and Transportation Authority Benefits, Farmer Costs, and Carbon Impacts,” published February 2012.

This Technical Summary pertains to Report 2009-16, “The Economic Impact of Upgrading Roads,” published June 2009.

This spreadsheet accompanies Report 2003-19, "The Per-Mile Costs of Operating Automobiles and Trucks." It provides a model for calculating the costs of operating cars and trucks.

This Transportation Research Synthesis examines how transportation agencies define, demonstrate, and document efficiencies. The research resulted in a compilation of State DOT survey results, interview summaries for eight featured State DOTs selected by the Minnesota DOT, one international transportation agency example, and several appendices that show detailed examples of cost savings achieved from efficiencies in transportation.

This Transportation Research Synthesis provides a comprehensive summary of the findings related to biking and its economic impact.

This report looks at how state DOTs and regional-level Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) coordinate funding estimates for long-range plans. It looks at whether state DOTs are directive about the funding estimates used by MPOs in their long-term plans and if so, how they do this. It also looks at how MPOs accommodate uncertainty in their funding estimates. This study also looks at how MPOs select projects and how state DOTs interact in these processes.

This synthesis reviews several strands of relevant literature that aim to assess the basic issue of the economic impact of highways.

This project estimated the economic impact of the bicycling industry and events in Minnesota, estimated bicycling infrastructure use across the state, and assessed the health effects of bicycling in the Twin Cities metropolitan area (TCMA). A survey of bicycling-related manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, non-profit and advocacy groups found the industry produced a total of $779.9 million of economic activity in 2014. Using data from multiple sources, The number of bicycle trips in Minnesota was estimated to be between 75.2 and 96 million annually. The TCMA accounts for 69%-72% of the total number of trips and miles traveled in Minnesota. Bicycling events, including races, non-race rides, fundraising events, mountain bicycling events, high school races, and bicycle tours, produced a total of $14.3 million of economic activity in 2014. All six types of bicycling events mainly attract white, non-Hispanic male participants. "Riding my bicycle" was the most frequently identified reason to attend an event (except for fundraising event participants), and there is a variety of enjoyable attributes that differed across event types. Overall, respondents were satisfied with the events. Bicycle commuting prevents 12 to 61 deaths per year, saving $100 million to $500 million. Bicycle commuting three times per week is also linked to 46% lower odds of metabolic syndrome, 32% lower odds of obesity, and 28% lower odds of hypertension, all of which lower medical costs. Project findings tell a compelling story for the positive effects of bicycling and provide direct evidence that supports the efforts of promoting bicycling-related industry, infrastructure, events, and activities.