Highway Safety Benefit-Cost 

Analysis Tool: Reference Guide 

FHWA Safety Program

http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov
Highway Safety Benefit-Cost Analysis Tool: Reference Guide

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Table of Contents 

1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................1

2 OVERVIEW OF THE TOOL ................................................................................................................2

3 INSTRUCTIONS .....................................................................................................................................4

3.1 Cell Color Codes.............................................................................................................................4

3.2 Project Information Worksheet...................................................................................................5

3.2.1 Project Data..............................................................................................................................5

3.2.2 Project Costs............................................................................................................................8

3.3 Crash Information Worksheet .....................................................................................................8

3.4 Analysis Parameters Worksheet ............................................................................................... 11

3.5 Results Worksheet....................................................................................................................... 11

3.6 Lookup Worksheet...................................................................................................................... 13

3.7 Final Calculations Worksheet .................................................................................................... 13

4 BENEFITS WORKSHEETS ................................................................................................................. 13

4.1 Crash Benefits................................................................................................................................ 13

4.2 Travel Time Benefits.................................................................................................................... 14

4.3 Reliability Benefits......................................................................................................................... 15

4.4 Vehicle Operating Costs Benefits.............................................................................................. 15

4.5 Emissions Benefits......................................................................................................................... 15

5 EVALUATING SYSTEMIC COUNTERMEASURE PROGRAMS ............................................... 16

6 SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................................. 19
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LIST OF TABLES 

Table 1. Highway Safety BCA Tool worksheet summary........................................................................2

Table 2. Analyst-supplied inputs for general benefits in the project data section. ............................5

Table 3. Tool-supplied defaults for the project data section..................................................................6

Table 4. Analyst-supplied inputs for reliability benefits in the project data section. .........................7

Table 5. Project cost items summary – project information worksheet. ............................................8

LIST OF FIGURES 

Figure 1. Screenshot. Hyperlink menu in the Home Page worksheet..................................................3

Figure 2. Chart. Cell color codes..................................................................................................................4

Figure 3. Screenshot. Number of countermeasures and calculation method.....................................9

Figure 4. Screenshot. Baseline crash data and CMF input.................................................................... 10

Figure 5. Screenshot. Calculation of annual change in crash frequency by severity....................... 10

Figure 6. Screenshot. Analysis parameters worksheet.......................................................................... 11

Figure 7. Screenshot. Example results worksheet.................................................................................. 12

Figure 8. Screenshot. Multipack10 file structure. ................................................................................... 16

Figure 9. Screenshot. Multipack10 summary sheet (partial). ............................................................... 18
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1 INTRODUCTION 

The Highway Safety Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) Tool (the Tool) supports the implementation 

of the methods described and demonstrated in the Highway Safety Benefit-Cost Analysis Guide

(the Guide). Specifically, the Tool provides a method for preparing a simple economic analysis 

of infrastructure projects, helping users to quantify projects costs as well as direct and indirect 

safety-related benefits of project alternatives. Direct safety benefits include the expected change 

in crash frequency and severity. Indirect benefits include the operational and environmental 

benefits that result from a reduction in crashes (i.e., reduced travel time, improved travel time 

reliability, reduced fuel use, and reduced emissions).

Given certain input data for a project, the model calculates the present value costs, present 

value benefits, net present value, and benefit-cost ratio. The benefits are derived from the 

estimated change in crashes between the base condition and an alternative scenario. While the 

user has multiple options for estimating and entering safety benefits in the Tool, the benefits are 

based on changes in crashes by severity. The Tool does not estimate benefits by crash type or 

by combinations of crash type and severity. Further, the crash severity levels are defined by the 

five-level KABCO scale; however, there is a conversion process if an agency estimates the 

change in crashes by different severity levels.

The Tool is intended for project-level analysis of single or multiple improvements at a given 

location. It can also support network-level economic analysis for projects that include multiple 

locations (e.g., systemic improvements). It does not address behavioral measures, or the direct 

benefits related to operations and the environment (i.e., those benefits not derived from a 

change in safety performance). Agencies may use other tools to quantify the benefits of 

behavioral measures and non-safety factors (e.g., microsimulation to estimate operational 

impacts; noise and emissions models to estimate environmental impacts).

While the Guide and Tool provide methods and default values to monetize the direct and 

indirect safety benefits of alternatives, a BCA is a policy or procedural decision where an 

agency defines the parameters. Agencies should develop a prioritization process that meets 

their specific needs, integrating quantitative safety and non-safety factors as needed.
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2 OVERVIEW OF THE TOOL 

The Tool is a basic spreadsheet application with two primary worksheets for inputting data, a 

worksheet summarizing the analysis parameters, a worksheet summarizing results, and several 

worksheets that perform and present background computations. Table 1 provides a summary 

of the worksheets in the BCA Tool.

Table 1. Highway Safety BCA Tool worksheet summary. 

Worksheet Description

Home Page Provides a navigation menu, links to additional guidance 

documentation and contact information.

Instructions Provides instructions for using the Tool.

1) Project Information Analyst-supplied data used to estimate project costs and 

benefits.

2) Project Crash Data Analyst-supplied data and calculations used to estimate annual 

crash reductions.

3) Analysis Parameters Parameters used for benefit calculations.

4) Results Summary of analysis results.

Crash Benefits Calculates the monetary benefit for annual crash reductions

resulting from a reduction in crash frequency and severity.

Travel Time Benefits Calculates the monetary benefit for annual reductions in travel 

time delay resulting from a reduction in crash frequency and 

severity.

Reliability Benefits Calculates the monetary benefit for annual improvements to 

travel time reliability resulting from a reduction in crash 

frequency and severity.

Vehicle Operating Cost

Benefits

Calculates the monetary benefit for the annual reduction in 

vehicle operating costs resulting from a reduction in crash 

frequency and severity.

Emissions Benefits Calculates the monetary benefit for the annual reduction in 

emissions resulting from a reduction in crash frequency and 

severity.

Lookup Reference tables used to calculate project benefits.

Final Calculations Calculations for the present value of project costs and benefits.
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The Home Page is a useful reference point to navigate worksheets in the Tool using simple 

hyperlink buttons shown in Figure 1. 

Figure 1. Screenshot. Hyperlink menu in the Home Page worksheet.
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3 INSTRUCTIONS 

Analysts may complete a BCA simply by entering a limited amount of data on the Project 

Information and Crash Information worksheets. Analysts may view the results on the Results 

worksheet. The Analysis Parameters worksheet allows the analyst to review and adjust the 

parameters used to calculate project benefits, such as value of time, travel time delay factors, 

vehicle operating cost factors, and emissions factors.

The model also provides a set of worksheets that calculate benefits for crashes, travel time, 

reliability, vehicle operating costs, and emissions. These worksheets are described in further 

detail in Section 4 of this reference guide. These worksheets perform calculations automatically 

and no analyst input is needed or recommended. All data and calculations in the Tool are 

transparent and reviewable by the user. All cells in the worksheets that do not require or allow 

user input are protected from accidental modification. However, users may update and modify 

the Tool as they see fit. The Tool password for all protected cells and sheets is safety, all lower 

case.

3.1 Cell Color Codes 

Cells are color-coded to assist analysts in the data entry and calculation process. Figure 2

summarizes the color codes.

Cell Type Color 

Coding Description

Analyst-Supplied Data 0.00 Cell allows data input from the analyst.

Model Default 0.00

Default value provided in the model. Defaults may be 

modified by the analyst using adjacent green cells. A 

green cell overrides its adjacent blue default cell in all 

calculations.

Model Parameter 0.00

Model parameter provided in the model based on the 

selection of roadway type. No analyst input is needed;

however, these values can be modified using adjacent 

green cells.

Model Calculation 0.00 Model calculation based on parameters and linked cells. 

No analyst input is required. 

Linked Cell 0.00 A cell value linked to another worksheet in the Tool. 

No analyst input is required.

Figure 2. Chart. Cell color codes.
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3.2 Project Information Worksheet 

Analysts begin the data entry process by entering the following basic project information, which 

is used to identify the analysis presented on the results worksheet: 

• Agency: The name of the transportation agency conducting the BCA. 

• Project Title: The title of the project. 

• Date: The date of the analysis. 

• Analyst: The name of the analyst conducting the BCA. 

• Build Alternative Name: The name of the build alternative analyzed in the BCA. 

The model requires analyst-supplied data to estimate project costs and benefits. The Project 

Information worksheet has two main components, which require analyst-supplied data and 

information: 1) project data and 2) project costs. The following sections describe the required 

inputs for these two components. 

3.2.1 Project Data 

Analysts must provide several pieces of information in the Project Data section. The selections 

made on this worksheet are critical to all other calculations completed inside the model. There 

are two levels of inputs depending on the desired outputs and benefits included in the BCA. 

Table 2 summarizes the required inputs for the analysis of benefits related to a reduction in 

crashes and the resulting benefits to travel time, vehicle operating costs, and emissions. Refer 

to the Guide for further discussion of inputs such as the analysis period. 

Table 2. Analyst-supplied inputs for general benefits in the project data section. 

Item Description 

Roadway Facility Type Analyst-supplied information for roadway facility type with five 

choices: 

• Urban Interstate/Expressway 

• Urban Arterial 

• Urban Other 

• Rural Interstate/Principal Arterial 

• Rural Other 

Analysis Period (Years) The length of the analysis period in years. This input is used to 

calculate benefits and costs over the appropriate time period 

specified by the analyst. This value should be the same for each 

alternative. 

Length of Construction 

Period (Years) 

The expected duration of construction in years. 
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Table 3 summarizes the Tool-supplied defaults for the analysis of benefits related to a reduction 

in crashes and the resulting benefits to travel time, vehicle operating costs, and emissions. The 

user can modify these values using the adjacent green cells. Refer to the Guide for further 

discussion of inputs such as the discount rate, fuel cost, and value of time.

Table 3. Tool-supplied defaults for the project data section.

Item Description

Total Time Period 

(Years)

Calculated total of the analysis period plus the construction period.

Discount Rate 

(Percent)

The discount rate used to calculate benefits and costs over the 

analysis period. The default is 3 percent.

Percent of Trucks in 

the Flow

Defaults for percent trucks are provided for each facility type in 

the model. These can be modified by the user. This assumption is 

used to calculate the average value of time for the facility under 

study.

Fuel Cost ($ Dollars) The per-gallon fuel cost used to calculate vehicle operating costs. 

Standard values may be obtained from the Bureau of 

Transportation Statistics.

Value of Time ($/Hr.) 

Personal

Used to value time savings from higher speeds, improved clearance, 

and improved reliability for Passenger vehicles.

Value of Time ($/Hr.) 

Freight

Used to value time savings from higher speeds, improved clearance, 

and improved reliability for Freight vehicles.

Calculated Combined 

Value of Time

Average value of time, weighted by the percent trucks and percent 

auto in the flow.

If the analyst would like to include reliability benefits in the BCA, then additional information is 

required. Table 4 summarizes the required inputs for the analysis of reliability benefits related 

to a reduction in crashes. Refer to the Guide for further discussion of inputs such as the

reliability ratio. 
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Table 4. Analyst-supplied inputs for reliability benefits in the project data section.

Item Description

Segment Length (Miles) Length of segment where the travel time reliability is impacted by 

the project under review. Segments can be of any length, but it is 

recommended that they not be so long that the characteristics 

change dramatically along the segment, or too short that input is 

burdensome. The following are examples of reasonable segment 

lengths:

• Restricted access roadways (e.g., freeways and interstates): 

define the analysis section between two or more 

interchanges.

• Signalized arterial corridors: define the analysis section 

between two or more signals.

• Rural highways (non-freeways): define the analysis section in 

2- to 5-mile segments.

Number of Lanes Lanes in one direction for freeway and arterials. Both directions for 

rural two-lane roads.

Free Flow Speed 

(MPH)

Based on facility type or observation.

Traffic Volume (during 

peak period)

Based on vehicle counts during peak period in vehicles per hour 

per mile for all lanes as specified above.

Link Capacity Based on Highway Capacity Manual methods, calculated by the 

Tool or overridden by user.

Hours of Peak Traffic 

per Day

Indicates the number of peak hours to consider in the analysis. This 

can be by AM/PM peak or for the full day.

Days of Analysis per 

Year

This is used in reliability benefit calculations, usually the number of 

commute days analyzed. The default is 260 days, but can be 

overridden by user.

Reliability Ratio 

Personal

The ratio of value of time saved on a trip to the value of time saved 

from improved reliability for passenger vehicles.

Reliability Ratio Freight The ratio of value of time saved on a trip to the value of time saved 

from improved reliability for freight vehicles.
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3.2.2 Project Costs 

The analyst must enter a complete set of project construction costs in the table provided in 

this section of the worksheet. The analyst must enter the data for each year in the analysis 

period and include all calculated life-cycle costs in the appropriate year, including initial costs, 

maintenance and operations costs, and major rehabilitation costs. Table 5 summarizes the 

required inputs for the analysis. The Guide describes project costs in further detail in chapter 3.

Table 5. Project cost items summary – project information worksheet.

Item Timeframe Description

Project Support Construction Costs associated with planning, preliminary 

engineering, and final engineering. 

Right-of-Way Construction Costs associated with right-of-way acquisition.

Construction Construction Costs associated with construction of the build 

alternative. 

Maintenance and 

Operations

Project Open for 

Traffic

Continuing costs associated with maintenance and 

operations of the alternative including:

• Labor for maintenance and operations.

• Materials and equipment for maintenance 

and operations.

• Utilities costs.

• Rent and lease payments.

• Emergency repairs.

Rehabilitation Project Open for 

Traffic

Future cost of repairs beyond routine maintenance 

including those incurred at the end of a project or 

period of analysis.

Mitigation Construction and 

Project Open for 

Traffic

Costs associated with mitigating environmental 

impacts during construction and at project open.

3.3 Crash Information Worksheet 

The Crash Information worksheet is critical to the calculation of benefits used in the model. 

The calculation for annual reductions in crash frequency and severity is the primary input to the 

rest of the calculations conducted in the BCA. The worksheet requires data for the estimated 

annual crashes without treatment and the appropriate crash modification factor (CMF) to be 

used in the analysis. 

Safety benefits are the expected change in crash frequency associated with a project alternative 

relative to the base condition. In general, there is a need to estimate the safety performance of 
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the base condition, then estimate the safety performance of the alternative condition, and finally 

take the difference to determine the change in safety. One option for estimating the change in 

safety is to apply CMFs to the long-term average safety performance for the base condition. 

When relevant CMFs are not available, it may be appropriate to estimate the change in safety 

performance by comparing the predicted crashes from one or more SPFs. For example, CMFs 

do not exist for a project that would convert a rural, two-lane, undivided highway to a rural, 

multilane, undivided highway; however, the Highway Safety Manual Part C Predictive Method 

provides SPFs and corresponding adjustment factors to estimate the safety performance of 

these two conditions. 

The Tool facilitates these options on the ‘Project Crash Data’ worksheet. If you have already 

estimated the expected change in crashes by severity, then enter this information as an 

override value for each severity level in the green cell next to the CMF estimated crash 

reductions. The Tool will then use these values for all benefit calculations. If you prefer to 

estimate the annual crashes for the base condition and apply a CMF to estimate the change in 

crashes, then proceed as follows: 

1. Select single or multiple countermeasures from the dropdown box as shown in Figure 3. 

This worksheet allows the analyst to estimate crash reductions where a single or 

multiple (two) countermeasure(s) are deployed. 

2. If multiple countermeasures, select the appropriate calculation method to estimate the 

combined effect from the dropdown box as shown in Figure 3. There are four options 

for methods to estimate the combined effect of multiple countermeasures: dominant 

effect, additive, multiplicative, and dominant common residuals. Refer to section 6.1 of 

the Guide for further guidance on how to select an appropriate method to estimate the 

combined effect of multiple countermeasures. 

Figure 3. Screenshot. Number of countermeasures and calculation method. 

3. Enter values for the estimated annual crashes without treatment (i.e., the base condition) as 

shown in Figure 4. The Tool does not provide the functionality to estimate crash 

frequency and severity for the base condition. Instead, the analyst must develop these 

estimates outside of the Tool, using methods such as those presented in the Highway 

Safety Manual. Refer to chapter 5 of the Guide for further discussion of how to establish 

the base condition and estimate the annual crashes without treatment. Further, the Tool 

does not explicitly account for traffic growth. As such, the input for the estimated 

annual crashes without treatment should represent the average annual crashes over the 
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analysis period. If traffic volume is expected to change during the analysis period, then 

consider using the average traffic volume over the analysis period when using predictive 

methods to estimate the average annual crashes.

4. Enter values for CMF1 (and CMF2 as appropriate) as shown in Figure 4. The analyst must 

obtain an applicable CMF value from another source such as the CMF Clearinghouse 

(The Tool provides a hyperlink button to the Clearinghouse). It is important to select 

and apply high-quality and applicable CMFs when possible. The Tool and Guide assume 

users are familiar with the selection of applicable CMFs. Refer to the CMF 

Clearinghouse for further guidance and resources on identifying and selecting CMFs. 

Refer to section 6.1 of the Guide for further guidance on applying CMFs to estimate 

safety benefits.

Figure 4. Screenshot. Baseline crash data and CMF input.

Figure 5 shows the section with calculations for the annual reduction in crash frequency by

severity. If the user enters values in the User Determined Reduction in Crashes, then the values in 

those green cells will be used in all benefit calculations.

Figure 5. Screenshot. Calculation of annual change in crash frequency by severity.

Formula 1: Estimated Annual Reductions with Treatment (3) = (1) Estimated Crashes without Treatment x (2) Crash Modfication Factor

Formula 2: Annual Reduction in Crashes (4) = (3) Estimated Annual Reduction with Treatment - (1) Estimated Crashes without Treatment

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

Injury Severity Scale

Estimated Annual Crashes without Treatment

Crash Modification FactorEstimated Annual Crashes with TreatmentAnnual Reduction in CrashesUser Determined Reduction in Crashes

K 0.05 0.86 0.04 0.01

A 0.30 0.66 0.20 0.10

B 0.80 0.66 0.53 0.27

C 1.20 0.50 0.60 0.60

O 2.60 0.45 1.17 1.43

Total 4.95 2.54 2.41

CALCULATION FOR THE ANNUAL REDUCTION IN CRASH FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY

This section automatically calculates annual reduction in crash frequency and severity. No user input is required for this table. However if the user wishes to override or enter externally calculated Crash Reductions, they may be entered in the Green cells, Column (5). 
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3.4 Analysis Parameters Worksheet 

The ‘Analysis Parameters’ worksheet contains the parameters used for benefit calculations. This 

worksheet is linked to the tables in the ‘Lookup’ worksheet. No analyst input is required for 

this worksheet; however, the analyst may override the model-supplied parameters by inputting 

values in the green cells as shown in Figure 6. 

Figure 6. Screenshot. Analysis parameters worksheet.

3.5 Results Worksheet 

The ‘Results’ worksheet provides a summary of analysis results as shown in Figure 7. The 

summary output is formatted to cleanly fit on an 8.5- by 11-inch sheet. This worksheet is 

provided to summarize the BCA results and no analyst input or modification is needed or 

recommended.
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Figure 7. Screenshot. Example results worksheet.

AGENCY: DOT DATE 2/14/2018

Present

Present Value Costs ($ Dollars) $900,000 ITEMIZED BENEFITS ($ Dollars) Value

Present Value Benefits ($ Dollars) $10,318,036 $9,989,932

Net Present Value ($ Dollars) $9,418,036 $127,027

Benefit / Cost Ratio: 11.46 $182,431

Discount Rate 3.0% $16,749

$1,896

TOTAL BENEFITS $10,318,036

Emissions

Case 1, Alternative 2

Benefit-Cost Analysis Summary Results

Safety

Travel Time

Reliability

Vehicle Operating Cost

$9,989,932

$127,027

$182,431 $16,749 $1,896

SAFETY TRAVEL TIME RELIABILITY VEHICLE OPERATING COST EMISSIONS

Benefits Summary (Present Value, Dollars)

$900,000

$10,318,036

$0

$2,000,000

$4,000,000

$6,000,000

$8,000,000

$10,000,000

$12,000,000

1 2

Benefits vs. Costs (Present Value, Dollars)

Costs Benefits

Print
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3.6 Lookup Worksheet 

The ‘Lookup’ worksheet contains reference tables used to calculate project benefits. The data 

tables provided on this worksheet are for reference purposes and no analyst input or 

modification is needed or recommended.

3.7 Final Calculations Worksheet 

The ‘Final Calculations’ worksheet calculates the present value of project costs and benefits.

The calculations from this worksheet are then linked to the ‘Results’ worksheet. Calculations 

on this worksheet occur automatically and no analyst input is needed or recommended.

4 BENEFITS WORKSHEETS 

The Tool contains five worksheets used to calculate the monetary benefit associated with the 

annual estimated change in crashes, and the resulting change in travel time, reliability, vehicle 

operating costs, and emissions. This section briefly describes the calculation process and 

parameters used in the worksheets. The calculations in these worksheets are generally 

intended for review purposes. The Tool is organized so the benefits calculations are completed 

automatically with no input required by the analyst beyond the project information already 

provided. The methods used to calculate project benefits are further described in chapter 4 and 

chapter 6 of the Guide.

The annual benefit estimates calculated in these sheets are linked to the ‘Final Calculations’

worksheet, where the present value benefits are computed over the analysis period using an 

amortization table. 

4.1 Crash Benefits 

The ‘Crash Benefits’ worksheet calculates the monetary benefit for annual crash reductions.

The calculation includes the annual reduction in crashes and the comprehensive crash unit cost 

by crash severity level. These two values are multiplied to estimate the annual monetary 

benefit.

A BCA is a policy or procedural decision where an agency defines the parameters, including the 

crash costs used for economic analysis. Agencies establish crash costs using different methods

based on internal policy decisions. It is important to use the crash costs established for the 

agency or program to which the project applies. Further, given that agencies often prioritize 

projects using the BCR, it is important to use consistent crash costs within an agency.

The Crash Costs for Highway Safety Analysis guide proposes a set of national crash unit costs 

and procedures to 1) update the crash unit costs over time, and 2) adjust the crash unit costs 

to States based on State-specific cost of living, injury-to-crash ratios, and vehicle-to-crash ratio. 

The Tool and Guide use the national crash costs as defaults, but the user should override these 

values with agency- or program-specific crash costs when available. If an agency does not have 
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established values for crash unit costs, then analysts can use the default values provided in the 

Tool and Guide or input crash cost values from another source.

Users can modify or update the crash cost defaults from the ‘Lookup’ worksheet. To do so, the 

user would unprotect the sheet (using the password ‘safety’) and replace the current crash cost 

values. This would change the crash costs in all uses within the Tool. 

Calculations on this worksheet occur automatically and no analyst input is required. Refer to 

chapter 4 and chapter 6 of the Guide for additional information on the calculation of crash 

benefits.

4.2 Travel Time Benefits 

The ‘Travel Time Benefits’ worksheet calculates the monetary benefit for the annual reduction 

in travel time delay based on the annual reduction in crashes. The National Highway Traffic 

Safety Administration (NHTSA) completed a study in 20101, later revised in 2015, which 

evaluated and monetized the economic and societal impact of motor vehicle crashes. NHTSA 

developed the most recent research on the fiscal impact of motor vehicle crashes, including 

aggregate increases in air emissions, vehicle operating costs, and travel time that result from 

specific crashes. For travel time, NHTSA estimated the total delay experienced for fatal, injury, 

and PDO crashes for five different types of roadway facilities:

• Urban Interstates/Expressways.

• Urban Arterials.

• Urban Other.

• Rural Interstates/Principal Arterials.

• Rural Other.

The NHTSA approach is particularly useful for monetizing the average delay hours per crash by 

crash severity and roadway facility type. Tables in the ‘Lookup’ worksheet provide the values 

developed by NHTSA to estimate travel time delay, which are transferred to the ‘Analysis 

Parameters’ worksheet based on the user-selected facility type. The user can override the 

default values on the ‘Analysis Parameters’ worksheet if desired. Calculations in ‘Travel Time 

Benefits’ worksheet occur automatically and no analyst input is required. Refer to chapter 4 and 

chapter 6 of the Guide for additional information on the calculation of travel time benefits.

 

1 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, The Economic and Societal Impact Of Motor Vehicle Crashes, 2010 

(Revised), May 2015, Accessed at: https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812013
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4.3 Reliability Benefits 

The ‘Reliability Benefits’ worksheet calculates the monetary benefit for the annual 

improvements to reliability based on the annual reduction in crashes. The Second Strategic 

Highway Research Program (SHRP2) developed the SHRP2 C-11 Reliability Module, which is a

spreadsheet tool to assess impacts on travel time reliability. The Reliability Module involves 

minimal data development and model calibration. The tool simplifies the analysis process for the 

transportation professional, who may not necessarily possess traffic engineering expertise. The 

procedure in the Reliability Module is based on the results of other SHRP2 projects, estimating

recurring and nonrecurring congestion, and using predictive equations to develop reliability 

metrics. 

The ‘Reliability Benefits’ worksheet incorporates the methods from the SHRP2 reliability 

research. The data needed for these calculations are found on the ‘Project Information’

worksheet as defaults or as user provided data. Calculations on this worksheet occur 

automatically and no analyst input is required. Refer to chapter 4 and chapter 6 of the Guide 

for additional information on the calculation of reliability benefits.

4.4 Vehicle Operating Costs Benefits 

The ‘Vehicle Operating Costs Benefits’ worksheet calculates the monetary benefit for the 

annual reduction in vehicle operating costs based on the annual reduction in crashes. The 

NHTSA approach, described above in section 4.2, Travel Time Benefits, is useful for monetizing 

fuel-related vehicle operating cost reductions by crash severity and roadway facility type. Tables 

in the ‘Lookup’ worksheet provide the NHTSA-developed vehicle operating cost factors, which 

are transferred to the ‘Analysis Parameters’ worksheet based on the user-selected facility type. 

The user can override the default values on the ‘Analysis Parameters’ worksheet if desired. 

Calculations on the ‘Vehicle Operating Costs Benefits’ worksheet occur automatically and no 

analyst input is required. Refer to chapter 4 and chapter 6 of the Guide for additional 

information on the calculation of vehicle operating cost benefits.

4.5 Emissions Benefits 

The ‘Emissions Benefits’ worksheet calculates the monetary benefit for the annual reduction in 

emissions. The NHTSA approach, described above in section 4.2, Travel Time Benefits, is useful 

for monetizing emissions reductions by crash severity and roadway facility type. Tables in the 

‘Lookup’ worksheet provide the NHTSA-developed emissions factors, which are transferred to 

the ‘Analysis Parameters’ worksheet based on the user-selected facility type. Calculations on 

this worksheet occur automatically and no analyst input is required. Refer to chapter 4 and 

chapter 6 of the Guide for additional information on the calculation of emissions benefits.
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5 EVALUATING SYSTEMIC COUNTERMEASURE PROGRAMS 

Safety BCA is designed to provide a simple platform for assessing and comparing project-level 

alternatives. In some cases, the analyst may wish to evaluate multiple deployments of a single 

countermeasure over multiple sites or a region (e.g., systemic improvements).

Safety BCA can assist with the process of evaluating and prioritizing locations for systemic 

improvements. For example, consider a scenario where an agency is developing a systemic sign 

package to address curve-related crashes along rural, two-lane roads. The agency has identified 

curve-related fatal and serious injury crashes as the focus crash type, and rural, two-lane local 

roads as the focus facility type. Based on further analysis of these crashes, the agency selected a 

low-cost signing improvement to warn drivers of the curves; however, the agency only has 

$5,000 for the curve signing project and would like to identify the most effective use of funds. 

To select sites for the systemic sign project, the agency would estimate the BCR for each curve 

and then rank the sites by BCR from high to low. The sites with the highest BCR values would 

receive the sign package until funds are exhausted.

This type of analysis requires multiple runs of the Tool. For example, if there are 10 potential 

curves in the systemic sign improvement scenario above, then the analyst would run the Tool 

10 times, once for each site. The BCA of each potential site may be unique due to the specific 

characteristics for each deployment. To assist in this process, there is a Multipack10 download

that serves as a companion to the Tool. This download consists of ten copies of the Tool and a 

Summary file that collects the ‘Results’ pages from each of the ten models. 

Figure 8 displays the Multipack10 file structure based on data from the example in section 7.4 

of the Guide. The user can rename these files for convenience. To run the Multipack10, simply 

open the Safety BCA Results Summary file. This pulls the information from the other 10 files in 

the folder.

Figure 8. Screenshot. Multipack10 file structure.
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The user can create a Multipack of any size with some simple Excel development work. For 

example, if there were twenty deployments planned, the user could run two Multipack10 

folders and then combine the two Summary files into one. As another option, the user could 

first create a multipack file by copying the Safety BCA file the number of times required. Then, 

the user would create a summary file by copying and moving the “Results” page from each file 

to the Summary file. Finally, the user would create a Summary sheet within the Summary file 

where the data of interest is pulled from each of the results sheets. Figure 9 provides an 

example of a Multipack10 Summary Page to compare the 10 results side by side. Note all ten 

cases are shown on the full Summary sheet.
Highway Safety Benefit-Cost Analysis Tool: Reference Guide

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Figure 9. Screenshot. Multipack10 summary sheet (partial).

Guide Ch6 Case 4 Multiple Site Signage Test

DOT 1/12/2018

Alt 1 Alt 2 Alt 3

Life-Cycle Costs ($ Dollars) $ 5,000 $ 5,000 $ 5,000

Life-Cycle Benefits ($ Dollars) $ 20,670 $ 91,327 $ 12,396

Net Present Value ($ Dollars) $ 15,670 $ 86,327 $ 7,396

Benefit / Cost Ratio: 4.13 18.27 2.48

ITEMIZED BENEFITS (2017 Dollars) Alt 1 Alt 2 Alt 3

Crash Cost Savings $ 20,541 $ 91,159 $ 12,315

Travel Time Savings $ 121 $ 157 $ 75

Travel Time Reliability $ - -$ $ -

VOC Cost Savings $ 8 $ 10 $ 5

Emission Cost Savings $ 0 $ 0 $ 0

TOTAL BENEFITS $ 20,541 $ 91,327 $ 12,396

ITEMIZED BENEFITS (2017 Dollars)

0

20000

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Life-Cycle

Costs ($

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Life-Cycle

Benefits ($

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Present

Value ($

Dollars)

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Alt 4

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 $-

 $20,000

 $40,000

 $60,000

 $80,000

 $100,000

 $120,000 Alt 1

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Highway Safety Benefit-Cost Analysis Tool: Reference Guide

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6 SUMMARY 

The Tool supports the implementation of the Highway Safety Benefit-Cost Analysis Guide. 

Given basic input data for a project, the model calculates the present value costs, present value 

benefits, net present value, and benefit-cost ratio. The benefits are derived from the estimated 

change in crashes between the base condition and an alternative scenario. While it includes 

travel time, reliability, vehicle operating costs, and emissions benefits that result from a 

reduction in crashes, it does not include the direct benefits related to operations and the 

environment (i.e., those benefits not derived from a change in safety performance).

The Tool is intended for project-level analysis of single or multiple improvements at a given 

location. It can also support network-level economic analysis for projects that include multiple 

locations (e.g., systemic improvements). 

While the Tool provides default values to monetize the direct and indirect safety benefits of 

alternatives, a BCA is a policy or procedural decision where an agency defines the parameters. 

Agencies should customize the Tool to meet their specific needs, overriding the default values 

as needed, particularly the crash costs. Refer to the Guide for further discussion of the default 

values and methods included in the Tool.
For More Information:

Visit https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/

FHWA, Office of Safety

Karen Scurry

karen.scurry@dot.gov

609-637-4207 

FHWA-SA-18-027