Engineering Economics and Finance for Transportation Infrastructure [electronic resource] /
Prassas, Elena S.author.
Roess, Roger P.author.
Transportation infrastructure is often referred to as society’s bloodstream.  It allows for the movement of people and goods to provide the ability to optimize the production and distribution of goods in an effective and efficient manner, and to provide personal opportunities for employment, recreation, education, health care, and other vital activities.   At the same time, the costs to provide, maintain, and operate this complex infrastructure are enormous.  Because so much of the economic resources to be invested come from public funds, it is critical that expenditures are made in a manner that provides society with the best possible return on the investment.  Further, it is important that sufficient investment is made available, and the costs of the investment are equitably borne by taxpayers.   This textbook provides a fundamental overview of the application of engineering economic principles to transportation infrastructure investments.  Basic theory is presented and illustrated with examples specific to the transportation field.  It also reviews the history of transportation finance, as well as current methods for funding transportation investments in the U.S.  Future problems and potential solutions are also discussed and illustrated.
Description based upon print version of record.
Contents; List of Figures; List of Tables; Introduction; 1.1 Funding Needs for Transportation Infrastructure; 1.2 Revenues for Transportation Infrastructure; 1.3 Tools for Analysis; References; Part I Engineering Economics with Transportation Applications; Banking Formulae; 2.1 Single Payment Transactions; 2.1.1 Compound Amount; 2.1.2 Present Value or Present Worth; 2.2 Uniform Series Transactions; 2.2.1 Sinking Fund Transactions; 2.2.2 Capital Recovery and Annuities; 2.3 Using Banking Formulae in Engineering Applications; 2.4 Closing Comments; References
Use of Banking Formulae in Engineering Economics3.1 Simple Engineering Applications; 3.2 Applications Involving "Infinite" Service Periods; 3.3 Methodologies for Engineering Economic Comparisons; 3.3.1 The Treatment of Transportation Demand; 3.3.2 Defining the Scope of Alternatives in an Economic Analysis; 3.3.3 Direct Techniques for Alternative Economic Analysis; 3.3.4 Incremental Methods for Alternative Economic Analysis; 3.4 Defining Inputs to Economic Alternative Analyses; 3.4.1 Selection of an Analysis Period; 3.4.2 Selecting an Interest Rate; 3.5 Closing Comments; References
The Costs of Transportation for Alternative Economic Analysis4.1 User Costs; 4.2 System Costs; 4.3 Indirect Costs; 4.4 The Costs of Transportation; 4.5 The Cost of Travel Time; 4.5.1 Issues Affecting How Travel Time Is Viewed; 4.5.2 Estimating the Value of Travel Time; 4.5.3 An Illustrative Application in the Value of Travel Time; 4.5.4 Closing Comments on Travel Time; 4.6 Vehicle Operating and Maintenance Costs; 4.6.1 Typical Operating and Maintenance Costs; 4.6.2 An Example in Vehicle Operating and Maintenance Costs; 4.7 The Cost of Highway Crashes; 4.8 Highway System Costs
4.9 Public Transportation Costs4.9.1 Construction Costs; 4.9.2 Rolling Stock; 4.9.3 Operating and Maintenance Costs; 4.10 Closing Comments; References; Illustrations of Complex Economic Analyses; Part II Financing of Transportation Infrastructure; History of Transportation Finance in the U.S.; 6.1 The Early Toll Roads [1-3]; 6.2 The National Road [4-6]; 6.3 The Good Roads Movement [8, 9]; 6.4 The Lincoln Highway [10]; 6.5 The Federal-Aid Highway Program, 1916 to 1955; 6.5.1 Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1916 [11]; 6.5.2 Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1921
6.5.3 Federal-Aid Highway Acts from 1921 to 19556.6 Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 [12, 13]; 6.7 Federal-Aid Highway Acts from 1957 - 1991; 6.8 Federal Funding for Railroads; 6.8.1 The Pacific Railway Acts, 1862-1866 [14]; 6.8.2 AMTRAK [15]; 6.8.3 High-Speed Rail Program [16]; 6.9 Federal Funding for Aviation; 6.10 Federal Funding for Urban Mass Transportation; 6.11 The Era of Multimodal Funding; 6.11.1 The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) [20]; 6.11.2 The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (1998,TEA-21) [21]
6.11.3 The Safe, Accountable, Flexible and EfficientTransportation Equity Act - A Legacy for Users(SAFETEA-LU, 2005) [22]
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Transportation infrastructure is often referred to as society’s bloodstream.  It allows for the movement of people and goods to provide the ability to optimize the production and distribution of goods in an effective and efficient manner, and to provide personal opportunities for employment, recreation, education, health care, and other vital activities.   At the same time, the costs to provide, maintain, and operate this complex infrastructure are enormous.  Because so much of the economic resources to be invested come from public funds, it is critical that expenditures are made in a manner that provides society with the best possible return on the investment.  Further, it is important that sufficient investment is made available, and the costs of the investment are equitably borne by taxpayers.   This textbook provides a fundamental overview of the application of engineering economic principles to transportation infrastructure investments.  Basic theory is presented and illustrated with examples specific to the transportation field.  It also reviews the history of transportation finance, as well as current methods for funding transportation investments in the U.S.  Future problems and potential solutions are also discussed and illustrated.
Engineering economics.
Engineering economy.
Economic policy.
Civil engineering.
Public finance.
Engineering Economics, Organization, Logistics, Marketing.
R & D/Technology Policy.
Civil Engineering.
Public Economics.


Springer Tracts on Transportation and Traffic