PROGRAM- Download a print version of the agenda (pdf) by clicking here. Links to conference presentations can be found below.
NOTE: Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the conference hosts or sponsors. Nor do the views and opinions of authors expressed herein necessarily state or reflect those of the conference hosts or sponsors and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes. All abstracts, papers and presentations have been reviewed to ensure consistency with the conference theme, however, because of the number of papers, the time allowed for review and other factors, this review is not equivalent to the reviews given for papers published in most TRB publications.
Opening Reception, Juliet Museum of Art, The Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences of West Virginia, sponsored by Delta Regional Authority and the National Association of Development Organizations
Welcome and Introductions
- Robert Plymale, Nick J. Rahall II Appalachian Transportation Institute
- Earl Gohl, Appalachian Regional Commission
Remarks
- Honorable Nick. J. Rahall II, US House of Representatives
- Honorable Jay Rockefeller, US Senate
- Honorable Shelley Moore Capito, US House of Representatives
Keynote
- Honorable Ray LaHood, US Secretary of Transportation
Distinguished representatives from the West Virginia congressional delegation and the Rahall Appalachian Transportation Institute welcomed attendees to the conference.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS A
The technical portion of the conference began with four sessions that explore national and international perspectives on freight and rail issues, a cross-country comparison of the impact of transport on economic activity and an examination of the need for transportation infrastructure improvements caused by cluster-based economic development as well as a session on the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS). Kathy Ruffalo from Ruffalo and Associates, LLC discussed federal transportation funding policy at this critical juncture in time. Currently there is no adopted federal reauthorizing legislation in place that sets the direction for the development of our transportation system that is so important to our regional, state, and national economy. A discussion moderated by the National Association of Development Organizations explored the issues surrounding the critical importance of the role the transportation system in supporting new economic development strategies. The Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies also participated in this moderated session.
Session A1: National, regional and local studies of freight transportation on economic performance.
Moderator: Jon Skolnik, Jack Faucett Associates, Inc. (moderator comments)
- Beyond the Value of Travel Time: Examining the Effects of Shipper Logistics on Economic Investment Decisions Involving Freight Systems; Brian Alstadt, EDR Group, USA (abstract) (presentation)
- Transportation Outlook in the New Congress; Kathy Ruffalo, Ruffalo and Associates, LLC* (presentation)
*Ms. Ruffalo was originally scheduled to speak during the opening session.
Session A2: International and cross country comparisons of transportation and economic development.
Moderator: Audrey Moruza, Virginia Department of Transportation
- International Comparisons of the Relationship of Measures of National Transportation Systems to National Economic, Social and Environmental Indicators; Arlee Reno, Cambridge Systematics, USA (abstract) (presentation)
- Transport Infrastructure and Economic Efficiency - A Cross Country Comparison Using Data Envelopment Analysis; Muhammad Chaundry, Molde University College, Norway (abstract) (presentation)
- Can Road Construction Play a Strategic Role in Post-Conflict Recovery and Foreign Assistance Efforts? An Economic Impact Analysis of the Keshim – Faizabad Road in Afghanistan; Eric Cook, Anjali Dharan and David Hoehner, Louis Berger Group, USA (abstract) (presentation)
Session A3: Analysis of changes in transportation infrastructure on regional and local geographies due to cluster-based economic development.
Moderator: Peggy Tadej, Northern Virginia Regional Commission
- The Southern Automotive Corridor: Assessing the Contribution on Regional Economic Activities; Bruce Lambert, Institute for Trade & Transportation Studies, USA (abstract) (presentation)
- Connecting Clusters and Communities: Transportation Options in the Columbia River Gorge; Scott Turnoy, Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD) in The Dalles, Oregon, USA (presentation)
- Innovation Transit Oriented Development; Lyle Wray, Capital Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) in Hartford, Connecticut (presentation)
Session A4: The Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) - Access to Opportunities
Moderator: Ken Wester, Appalachian Regional Commission
- Economic Benefits of the Appalachian Development Highway System: A Look Back and a Look Forward; Greg Bischak, Co-Chair, Transportation and Economic Development Committee, TRB, USA (presentation)
- Economic Impact Study of Completing the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS); Dan Hodge, HDR Decision Economics, USA (presentation)
- Assessing Economic Development Need for an Appalachian Development Highway System Corridor; Beth Jones, Southeast Tennessee Development District, USA (presentation)
- Network Appalachia: Developing an International Reach to Compete in a Global Economy; Lloyd Thompson, Moffatt & Nichol, Inc., USA (presentation)
CONCURRENT SESSIONS B
As in any industry, advances in technology need to be explored to improve efficiencies. These sessions explored such advances on three levels; improved modeling techniques, integration of fiber optic system transportation infrastructure and the development of entirely new transportation systems, such as high speed rail, that can provide options to support economic growth. A concurrent session focused on the interaction of changes in our climate and transportation and economic development dynamics. These dynamics must be better understood by policy makers. The last session in this grouping focused on methods to estimate green house gas emissions and the development of the biofuels industry.
Session B1: National, regional and local economic effects of various modes of transportation infrastructure on economic performance.
Moderator: Jon Skolnik, Jack Faucett Associates, Inc. (moderator comments)
- Scan of Models to Measure Economic Impacts of Transportation; Karen White, FHWA, USA (abstract) (presentation)
- Unanalyzed Components in Transportation and Economic Analysis; Martin Weiss, Consultant, USA (paper) (presentation)
- Regional Impacts of a US-35 Toll Road in West Virginia; Junwook Chi, Nick J. Rahall Appalachian Transportation Institute and Center for Business and Economic Research, USA (abstract) (presentation)
Session B2: Impacts of technological change on transportation and economic development.
Moderator: Arno Hart, RNO Group
- Economic Development and High-Speed Rail: How Market Access and City Size Influence Development Opportunities; Stephen Fitzroy, EDR Group, USA (abstract) (presentation)
- Evaluating Policies for the Expansion of Fiber Optic Infrastructure, Implications for Planning Economic Growth and Integration in Western Massachusetts; Melissa Paciulli, University of Massachusetts, USA (abstract) (presentation)
- The New Imperative: Collaboration Tools Link Transportation and Economic Development Planning; Julie Lorenz, Burns & McDonnell Engineering, USA (abstract) (presentation)
Session B3: Energy/climate change policy-induced effects on transportation investments and economic development.
Moderator: Greg Bischak, Co-Chair, Transportation and Economic Development Committee, TRB
- A Comparison Analysis of Methods Used to Estimate GHG Emissions to Better Understand the Effects of Transportation Investments; Judith Mwakalonge, Praire View A&M University, USA (abstract) (presentation)
- The Biofuel Industry in the Southeast - The Implications on Transportation Systems; Bruce Lambert, Institute for Trade & Transportation Studies, USA (abstract) (presentation)
- Growing Wealthier: Smart Growth, Climate Change and Prosperity; Charles Kooshian, Center for Clean Air Policy, USA (report) (presentation)
CONCURRENT SESSIONS C
It is generally agreed that public transport contributes to economic growth. These may be found in the various economic dynamics in public transport both internal to the provision of service and external to the change economic values of adjacent land uses being served by the service. The first of the three sessions in this grouping explored these issues. Many also agree that this dynamic should be examined as part of the process of planning transport systems. This would involve including economic development considerations as part of the formal planning process carried out by regional and state planning and transportation agencies. This was covered in the second session. Lastly, spatial impacts of transport investments are a critical consideration when assessing the need for improvements and were covered in this concurrent session.
Session C1: Economic Growth Impacts of Public Transport Investments
Moderator: Chris Mann, Co-Chair, Transportation and Economic Development Committee, TRB
- Measuring the Impact of Accessibility Change on Commercial Property Values: The Case of the New Jersey Transit's Midtown District; Talha Muhammad, HDR, USA (abstract) (presentation)
- Transit Planning in Regional Economic Development Analysis, Robena Reid, USA (presentation)
- The "Versement Transport" as a Successful Way to Fund and Develop Public Transport; Jean-Claude Ziv, Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers, France (abstract) (presentation)
Session C2: Integration of economic impact analysis into state and regional transportation planning processes.
Moderator: Peter Ogonowski, WIlbur Smith Associates
- Long-term Economic Requirements in Transportation Planning; Lisa Petraglia, EDR Group *presented by Glen Weisbrod, EDR Group, USA (abstract) (presentation)
- Review of State and Regional Practices in Integrating Economic Impact Analysis into the Transportation Planning Process; Judy Perkins, Prairie View A&M University, USA *presented by Judith Mwakalonge, Prairie View A&M University (abstract) (presentation)
- Uncertainty on Crossing Times at US/Mexican Border: Impacts on Safety Stocks of NAFTA Supply Chains; Miguel Gaston Cedillo-Campos, COMIMSA, Mexico (abstract) (presentation)
Session C3: Methodological innovations in measuring the spatial impact and distribution costs and benefits of transportation infrastructure investments.
Moderator: Diana Long, Nick J. Rahll II Appalachian Transportation Institute
- Calculation of Dynamic Effects in the Socio-Economic Method of Construction Projects in Transport Sector in Denmark; Brian Gardner Mogensen, Grontmig | Carl Bro A/S, Denmark (abstract) (presentation)
- Spatial Representation in Economic Impact Models; Sharada Vadali, TTI, USA (abstract) (presentation - not available)
- Comparing Cougars and Camels in Economic Development and Transportation; Dean Hatfield, The Louis Berger Group, USA (abstract) (presentation)
Main conference ajourns for the day. Interested individuals were invited to attend the late afternoon session sponsored by TREDIS
Challenges Facing the Use of Economic Impact Models by Transportation Agencies - An Open Discussion
A practical challenge for transportation agency staff and consultants is communicating economic impact concepts to the public and to decision-makers. Use of sophisticated economic models can help inform discussions and decisions, but only if there is effective translation of key model concepts and analysis results into the language and perspectives of the interested parties to address their needs. This session continued a discussion of the topic that was started at the TREDIS Users meeting at TRB in January. It was, however, open to all, as the topic was of relevance to all researchers and practitioners and is not unique to any single model. (discussion points)
Dinner, West Virginia Cultural Center,West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin as been invited to provide opening remarks, sponsored by Delta Regional Authority and the National Association of Development Organizations
MORNING "All Star" PLENARY SESSION
Moderator: Matt Chase, National Association of Development Organizations
- Clifford Winston, Brookings Institution (presentation)
- Chris Masingill, Delta Regional Authority (no presentation available)
- Earl Gohl, Appalachian Regional Commission (presentation)
The second day of the conference began with a thought provoking discussion by three key leaders in transportation-economic development policy formulation. The Delta Regional Authority, Appalachian Regional Commission and the Brookings Institution were represented.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS D & TOUR
Transportation infrastructure investments have many elements that are critical to their success, some of which involve non-traditional partnerships in their development and delivery. Three presentations examined three very different elements of transport system development that involve public-private partnerships in project financing, use of public rights-of-way for economic development, and use of public rights-of-way for port development. As an option to complex economic analysis, the case study approach to economic impact measurement has been beneficial to policy makers and analysts in conducting analyses of proposed investments. Results from the SHRP2-CO3 program were presented with an eye towards providing an additional tool for analysts. Benefit cost analysis and economic impact analysis have been traditional methods for appraising economic impacts. However, they are not uniformly applied across organizations. Presentations examined various issues in their application with future directions suggested.
Session D1: Public-private sector roles and relationships in promoting transportation infrastructure investments for economic development objectives
Moderator: Marwan Madi, Booz Allen Hamilton
- The Role of Public Transportation Infrastructure Investment in Private Sustainable Development; Billy Leung, Regional Economic Models, Inc., USA (presentation not available)
- Economic Impact of Wisconsin's Commercial Ports, Helping to Keep the State's Economy Afloat; Liat Bonneville, Wisconsin Department of Transportation, USA (abstract) (presentation)
- Sound Financial Management & Reliable Sources of Funding - Key Attributes for Timely Completion of HIghway Projects; M. Kishore Kumar, Border Roads Organisation, India (abstract) (paper) (presentation)
Session D2: Highway Impacts on Economic Development: The SHRP2 - CO3 Program
Moderator: David Plazak, SHRP2 Staff, TRB
- The SHRP2 Research Program on Transportation, Economic Development and Land Use; David Plazak, SHRP2 Staff, TRB, USA (presentation)
- The TPICS Web Tool: A Dataset of Transportation Project Impact Case Studies; Stephen Fitzroy, EDR Group, USA (presentation)
- Meta Analysis of Economic Impact Studies: Implications for Highway Investment Planning; Steven Landau, EDR Group, USA and Rimon Rafiah, Economikr, Israel (presentation)
- Conducting Local Case Studies of Highways and their Economic Development Impact; Susan Jones Moses, Susan Jones Moses and Associates, USA (presentation)
- Discussion of Measurement Issues, Paula Dowell, Cambridge Systematics
Session D3: Innovations in transportation project economic development appraisal
Moderator: Stefan Natzke, National Systems and Economic Development, FHWA
- Learning from Pratice: Benefit Cost Analysis and Economic Impact Analysis; Brian Alstadt, EDR Group, USA (abstract) (presentation)
- A Tale of Two Closures: Economic Impacts of Highway Closures in St. Louis and Appalachia; Dan Hodge, HDR Decision Economics, USA (abstract) (presentation - not available)
- Benefit-Cost Analysis of Strategic Provincial Roads in Southern and Eastern Afghanistan; Eric McClellan, Wilbur Smith Associates (abstract) (presentation - not available)
Toyota Plant Tour
Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia (TMMWV) manufactures 4-cylinder and V6 engines for their operations in Indiana and Canada. The West Virginia plant also produces automatic transmissions and gears for plants in Kentucky, Indiana, and Canada. TMMWV was established in 1996 and currently employs 1,006 people. Tour participants took a trolley tour through the transmission plant, and listened to a presentation on the start-up of the plant and the product line. See pictures and a brief report.
LUNCH, sponsored by The Louis Berger Group, Inc.
Luncheon Speaker: Jose Viegas, Professor of Transportation, Civil Engineering & Architecture Department of the Instituto Superior Técnico, Tech. University of Lisbon (presentation)
CONCURRENT SESSIONS E
The final concurrent session focused on a wide range of topics ranging from equity impacts to the economic impacts of airport investments. Presenters covered macro-level topics including impacts of transport investments on productivity while other sessions described progress on a current NCHRP research project dealing with factors that can influence the siting of freight facilities. Finally the contribution of investments in aviation facilities on economic performance was presented.
Session E1: Equity and distributional considerations for users and non-users of economic-induced transportation investments.
Moderator: Martin Weiss, Consultant
- Differences in High-Density Residential Development Rate Along Bangkok's Rail Transit Corridors; Saksith Chalermpong, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand (abstract) (presentation)
- Causal Linkages Between Public Capital, Private Capital and Economic Growth; Eirini Kastrouni, Iowa State University, USA (abstract) (presentation)
Session E2: Issues in intermodal and multi-modal transportation investment strategies.
Moderator: Marwan Madi, Booz Allen Hamilton
- Economic and Transportation Drivers for Siting Freight Intermodal and Warehouse Distribution Facilities; Dan Hodge, HDR Decision Economics and Chris Steele, CWS Group, USA (abstract) (presentation)
- Advances in Modeling Economic Development Impacts of Multi-Modal Investments; Glen Weisbrod, EDR Group, USA (abstract) (presentation)
- Improving Container Availability and Intermodal Activity in the Heartland; Jason Bittner, National Center for Freight & Infrastructure Research and Education, USA (abstract) (presentation)
Session E3: National, regional and local studies of air transport on economic performance.
Moderator: Jim Gillespie, Virginia Department of Transportation
- The Economic Benefits of Night Flights: The Case of Germany; Richard Klophaus, Worms University of Applied Sciences, Germany (abstract) (presentation)
- Economic Impacts of Complimentary Roadway and Airport Expansions; Steven Landau, EDR Group, USA (abstract) (presentation)
- Infrastructure-Induced Rent and Rent Seeking: A Case Study of Bangkok's Airport; Apiwat Ratanawaraha, Chulalongkom University, Thailand (abstract) (presentation)
CLOSING PLENARY SESSION
Moderator: Chris Mann, Co-Chair, Transportation and Economic Development Committee, TRB
- Glen Weisbrod, EDR Group
- Jean-Claude Ziv, Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers, France
- Greg Bischak, Co-Chair, Transportation and Economic Development Committee, TRB
Three speakers closed the conference with comments on their views of the accomplishments of the conference and suggestions for the future direction of research in transportation and economic development. Attendees are encouraged to give their views and suggestions on new research. Greg Bischak, Co-Chair, Transportation and Economic Development Committee, TRB will provide closing remarks.
