Case Study of Benefit–Cost Analysis of an Intercity Passenger Rail Service

2017 ◽  
Vol 2608 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-85
Author(s):  
Francis E. Loetterle ◽  
Melanie Johnson ◽  
Charles Quandel ◽  
Carey Barr ◽  
Andrew Komendantov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Assessment ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Benefit Cost Ratio ◽  
Project Assessment ◽  
Passenger Rail ◽  
Target Field ◽  
Benefit Cost ◽  
Rail Service

The economic assessment of transportation projects is evolving from a reliance on user benefits (travel time, cost, or safety) to encompass a wider spectrum of potential benefits, fostered by advances in economics and recognition that different project modes deliver different portfolios of benefits. Sponsors develop projects to address specific problems in their communities. This progression in how investments are evaluated opens the door for projects whose outcomes span a variety of benefit categories rather than concentrating on traditional user benefits and permits an improved intermodal comparison of candidate investments. Transit and intercity rail projects are particular beneficiaries of the broader project assessment approach. This paper presents a case study of how a comprehensive approach to project assessment was applied to the Northern Lights Express project that would reintroduce passenger rail service between the cities of Minneapolis and Duluth, Minnesota, the state's largest economies. Owned and operated by BNSF Railway, Amtrak's service in the corridor ended in 1985. Six stations are planned: Target Field in Minneapolis; stations in Coon Rapids, Cambridge, and Hinckley, Minnesota; a station in Superior, Wisconsin; and Union Depot in Duluth. The goal for the analysis was threefold: ( a) to confirm that the investment would yield a positive return; ( b) to communicate with partners, stakeholders, and the public about the project's expected outcomes; and ( c) to contribute to the selection of an alternative. The benefit–cost ratio was estimated for eight alternatives that varied by physical alignment and service plan.

scholarly journals Development of Benefit Cost Analysis Tools for Evaluating Transportation Research Projects

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolai Greer ◽  
Khaled Ksaibati
Keyword(s):  
Cost Analysis ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Benefit Cost Ratio ◽  
Transportation Research ◽  
Benefit Cost ◽  
Transportation Agencies

Transportation research projects are a vital element for transportation agencies to accumulate new technology and knowledge to improve the efficiency and safety of transportation infrastructure. The purpose of this paper is to develop benefit cost analysis (BCA) tools to assist transportation agencies in evaluating transportation research projects. The BCA tools provide analysis methods for estimating the benefits for changes in the level of service (LOS) of a roadway, reductions in the vehicle travel time, changes in vehicle operating costs and reductions in the number of crashes. Three case studies were investigated to illustrate the usage of the BCA tools. The first case study evaluated the effectiveness of variable speed limit systems implemented along I-80 in southern Wyoming. The BCA tools estimated a benefit cost ratio of 6.64 indicating that the implementation of the project was economically justifiable. The second case study was a recent study investigating and developing mitigation strategies for the effects of truck traffic along the I-80 in southern Wyoming resulting in a benefit cost ratio of a 9.23 indicating that the project had the potential to be economically viable upon implementation. The final case study evaluated the effect of wildlife overpass and underpass crossings on the migrations of pronghorn and mule deer. The benefit cost ratio for the research project was 0.42 indicating that the project was not economically beneficial after the first year of implementation. The case studies indicated that the BCA tools are a beneficial tool for quantifying the economic benefits of a transportation research project.

scholarly journals Benefit-Cost Analysis of Apiculture Enterprise: A Case Study of Jutpani VDC, Chitwan, Nepal

2006 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 119-125
Author(s):  
KH Devkota
Keyword(s):  
Cost Analysis ◽  
Sample Survey ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Benefit Cost Ratio ◽  
Benefit Cost ◽  
Bee Colonies ◽  
Average Annual Income

A survey study was conducted to study the benefit-cost analysis of apiculture enterprise in Jutpani VDC, Chitwan district. Data were collected by interviewing randomly selected 18 beekeepers for sample survey. Benefit : Cost (BC) ratio of apiculture was computed by including and excluding the revenue obtained from colony selling. Only 61.11% of beekeepers sold bee colonies for earning income. The study revealed that BC ratios of apiculture were 2.41 and 1.58 in the case of inclusion and exclusion of the income received from the colony selling, respectively. It showed that apiculture industry was running in profit in both cases. In the former case, the BC ratio ranged from 0.97 to 6.22 and about 88.88% beekeepers were in profit. The BC ratio in the later case ranged from 0.43 to 3.41 and about 77.77% beekeepers were in profit. The number of colonies ranged from 2 to 54 with an average of 21.33 colonies per bee farm. In the former case, average annual income was Rs. 70758.33 (US$ 969.29 approximately) per farm and Rs. 49588.31 (US$ 679.29 approximately) in the later case. Likewise, the average income per colony per annum was Rs. 3317.31 (US$ 45.44) and Rs. 1777.65 (US$ 24.35 approximately) in the former and later case, respectively. Key words : Apiculture, benefit-cost ratio, beekeeper J. Inst. Agric. Anim. Sci. 27:119-125 (2006)

A Benefit-Cost Analysis of the Kings County District Attorney's Office Drug Treatment Alternative to Prison (DTAP) Program

2005 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary A. Zarkin ◽  
Laura J. Dunlap ◽  
Steven Belenko ◽  
Paul A. Dynia
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Drug Treatment ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Treatment Alternative ◽  
Drug Offenders ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Kings County ◽  
Benefit Cost Ratio ◽  
Justice Process ◽  
Benefit Cost

In October 1990, the Kings County (Brooklyn, NY) District Attorney's Office implemented the Drug Treatment Alternative to Prison (DTAP) program to divert nonviolent felony drug offenders from prison to community-based residential drug treatment. This article presents an estimate of the costs and benefits of the DTAP program based on a cohort of DTAP participants and prison comparisons who entered treatment or prison in 1995–1996 and were tracked for 6 years. The analysis focuses on the criminal justice system (CJS) costs associated with criminal recidivism. Findings show that the DTAP program is cost-beneficial compared to the usual criminal justice process (benefit-cost ratio equals 2.17 after 6 years).

scholarly journals A Comparison of the Economic Efficiency of Living and Artificial Snowfence Designs for Road Protection

2000 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 70-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Daigneault ◽  
David R. Betters
Keyword(s):  
Economic Performance ◽  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Performance Indicator ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Double Row ◽  
Benefit Cost Ratio ◽  
Drifting Snow ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Benefit Cost

Abstract Both artificial and living snowfences are used to protect roads from blowing and drifting snow. This article evaluates and compares the economic performance of three snowfence designs--the Wyoming and double-row slatted artificial snowfences and a three-row living snowfence. The economic analysis evaluates the snowfences by applying four economic performance indicators: total net benefits, present net value, benefit/cost ratio, and annual breakeven benefits. The study uses snow removal savings and accident reduction benefit information from a case study in the state of Wyoming. The case study results show all the designs are economically efficient when used for road protection. However, the living snowfence outperformed the other designs in three of the four economic performance indicator categories. The largest proportion of total costs of the Wyoming and living snowfence are establishment costs whereas the bulk of total cost of the double-row slatted snowfence is for maintenance. The economic performance of all the snowfences is most sensitive to changes in their useful or effective lives. The procedures and general conclusions of the study can be applied to similar cases elsewhere. West. J. Appl. For. 15(2):70-74.

scholarly journals Benefit Cost Analysis of Different Rice Varieties in Kapilvastu District, Nepal

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-226
Author(s):  
Sundar Sapkota ◽  
Sanjib Sapkota
Keyword(s):  
Rice Variety ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Rice Varieties ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Benefit Cost Ratio ◽  
Mountainous Regions ◽  
Benefit Cost

Rice is an annual plant belongs to family Poaceae. It is the major staple food crop of Nepal and can be grown from plain to mountainous regions of Nepal. The crop varieties differ from each other in terms of production cost, gross return and gross margin. The objective of this study was to analyze benefit cost ratio for production of different rice varieties. The study was carried out in Kapilvastu district of Nepal in 2018. A sample size of 120 respondents were selected randomly. Four different rice varieties: Gorakhnath, Radha-4, Ramdhan, and Sawa were used for the study. The primary data were collected through household survey using interview schedule. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences and Microsoft Excel. The average cost of production was amounted to NRs. 77,100/ha for all four rice varieties. Sawa variety had the highest gross return (NRs. 1,01,212.5/ha). The benefit cost ratio was observed highest for Sawa (1.312) and lowest for Radha-4 variety (1.005). Sawa is the most economic rice variety in terms of gross and net production in the study area. The findings will help farmers to choose and cultivate rice variety with greater profitability. It is recommended that concerned authorities should give emphasis on subsidies, farmers training and ensuring floor price of rice.  Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 7(2): 222-226

scholarly journals The Feasibility of a Land Ferry System to Reduce Highway Maintenance Cost and Associated Externalities

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve J. Merrill ◽  
Alexander Paz ◽  
Victor Molano ◽  
Pramen P. Shrestha ◽  
Pankaj Maheshwari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effective ◽  
Maintenance Cost ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Construction Period ◽  
Pavement Maintenance ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Benefit Cost Ratio ◽  
Loading System ◽  
Heavy Loads ◽  
Benefit Cost

This study provides an economic evaluation for a Land Ferry, which is a rail system capable of carrying trucks and all other types of vehicles, passengers, and cargo. The Land Ferry system involves a sliding loading system to roll heavy loads onto a flatbed; as a result, loading and unloading of all vehicles and cargo could be accomplished simultaneously. The evaluation for this system included (1) the design of a new track alignment over which the Land Ferry system would run, (2) evaluation of various sources of power, (3) estimation of how many local jobs the Land Ferry would generate, and (4) a benefit-cost analysis. It was estimated that the Land Ferry would create over 45,788 temporary jobs in Nevada during the three-year construction period and 318 permanent jobs during operation. The majority of the benefits were attributed to savings in travel time ($356.4 M), vehicle operating costs ($1000.4 M), reduction of accidents ($544.6 M), and pavement maintenance ($503.2 M). These benefits would be a consequence of the shift of trucks from the highway, thus resulting in higher speeds, decrease fuel consumption, and decrease vehicle maintenance costs. The overall benefit-cost ratio of 1.7 implies a cost-effective project.

An analysis of month-wise variation of energy use in crop production-A case study in Golaghat district of Assam

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hemchandra Saikia ◽  
B. C. Bhowmick ◽  
R. A. Halim
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Sampling Method ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Energy Output ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Cropping Intensity ◽  
Benefit Cost Ratio ◽  
Energy Consuming ◽  
Benefit Cost

Energy is a very key component in every sphere of our life, be it a crop production or any other field. Again seasonality is a very common phenomenon in crop production and due to this there exist slacks and peak season of various sources of energy use and production. Present study was conducted in Golaghat district of Assam to highlight the month-wise energy use and also to know the energy output-input and benefit-cost ratio. Sampling method used for the study was Three Stage Sampling method. Result from the study revealed that the cropping intensity of the study area was 119.57 per cent. The most dominant energy consuming months were July, August, November, and December using 30.64, 18.90, 13.12 and 7.65 per cent of the total energy used in crop production in per hectare of gross cropped area. The energy output-input and benefit –cost ratio of the study area were 10.84 and 1.64 respectively. From the study it was found that there is vast scope to boost the production, productivity and profitability of crop production in study area by providing all the necessary infrastructures in due space and time in adequate amount and proper quality.

A Hybrid Approach Based on the Fuzzy AHP and Benefit Cost Analysis to Evaluating Cutting Blade Alternatives

2013 ◽  
Vol 364 ◽  
pp. 513-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Wei Xu ◽  
Jin Yao ◽  
Jun Li
Keyword(s):  
Cost Analysis ◽  
Manufacturing Systems ◽  
Fuzzy Ahp ◽  
Hybrid Approach ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Manufacturing Cost ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Benefit Cost Ratio ◽  
Consumption Cost ◽  
Benefit Cost

The cutting blade selection has been important issue for manufacturing systems due to the fact that it might affect productivity, precision and manufacturing cost. It is a multiple-criteria decision making problem for evaluating blade alternatives. In this paper, the hybrid approach is discussed,which combined the fuzzy AHP and benefit cost analysis. An improved AHP method based on triangular fuzzy number is used to analyze the cutting performance of blade alternatives. It can make up for the deficiency in the conventional AHP. Furthermore, the benefit cost analysis is carried out to evaluate the economic performance of alternatives. The benefit cost ratio is calculated by using the fuzzy AHP score and tool consumption cost. Tool consumption cost is obtained in consideration of tool service life and procurement cost. The optimal blade alternative with highest benefit/cost ratio can be found out. In addition, the proposed approach is also illustrated on a sample case study.

scholarly journals Profitability of semi-intensive and intensive egg production in South-West and South-South zones of Nigeria.

2006 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 118-127
Author(s):  
V. O. Okoruwa ◽  
A. E. Obuyelu ◽  
O. Ikoyo-Eweto
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Net Income ◽  
The South ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Benefit Cost Ratio ◽  
Budget Analysis ◽  
South West ◽  
Poultry Farmers ◽  
Benefit Cost

The paper examines the profitability of two improved poultry systems (semi-intensive and intensive egg production system)i in the South-West and South-South zones of Nigeria using descriptive statistics, farm budget analysis approach and the benefit-cost analysis. The data for the study were ob­tained through a multi-stage sapling approach from 70 poultry farmers selected from four states (Edo and Delta in South-South; Lagos and Oyo in the South -West) in the study area. Empirical evidence from the analysis shows that the poultry farmers are predominantly male and mostly single. A greater proportion (80%) of them fell between the ages of 31-50 years and had a least secondary school education. Majority of the farmers (86%) used black nera breed because of its high productiv­ity, resistance to diseases and environmental stress and good quality carcass when disposed as spent layer The study further reveals that differences exist in profitability between the two groups of poultry farmers as the net income of farmers using the battery cage system was about 1.8 times the net income of farmers using deep litter system. However; the benefit-cost ratio indicates that both group of farmers are making profit since the benefit-cast ratio of their poultry business exceed one.

Economic analysis of an areawide program for biological control of the alfalfa weevil

1995 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 173-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M. White ◽  
P.G. Allen ◽  
L.J. Moffitt ◽  
P.P. Kingsley
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Biological Pest Control ◽  
Alfalfa Weevil ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Benefit Cost Ratio ◽  
Livestock Products ◽  
Benefit Cost

AbstractAn areawide program for biological control of the alfalfa weevil showed expected economic benefits of $2.2 billion, expressed in present value terms. Alfalfa producers and consumers of livestock products are the main beneficiaries. The control program was highly successful, with a benefit/cost ratio of about 91. Not all areawide biological pest control programs will be as successful; a benefit-cost analysis like the one described here should be performed before areawide control is initiated to identify programs expected to provide economic benefits.

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