Case Study:

Portland, Oregon

Conclusions

Strengths

This case study demonstrates the use of a new modeling tool, STEAM, to calculate user benefits, as well as an established economic modeling tool, REMI, to translate these benefits into economic impacts. Variations on this modeling approach can be used, depending upon available data and resources. Specifically:

• STEAM can be used independently of REMI to estimate total user benefits of alternative network improvements and derive a benefit-cost ratio or other measure of net benefit. This approach provides a different benefits accounting system, since benefits to all users (not just those accruing to regional businesses) are included. On the other hand, the indirect and induced economic benefits of the various user benefits cannot be estimated using STEAM alone.
• The approach of tracking freight user benefits by commodity type provides a more accurate accounting from which to estimate economic impacts. Not all urban areas, however, will have readily available data on traffic patterns by commodity type. If these data cannot be obtained, origin-destination commodity flows can be estimated from available national commodity flow data combined with local traffic and land use data. The new Transportation Satellite Accounts (TSA) produced by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics can assist in determining freight transportation inputs by industry.

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