VALUE FOR MONEY AND APPRAISAL OF SMALL SCALE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SCHEMES

The evidence base on the relative value for money of different types of transport investment has grown considerably since the Eddington report in 2006. Small scale public transport schemes remain an important exception, however, and this is understood to have been a key reason for the substantial decline in Integrated Transport Block (ITB) funding in 2010. The work reported in this report has intended to fill this gap by compiling a database of close to 150 schemes obtained from PTEs and other local authority bodies, over a quarter of which had been the object of some sort of quantitative economic appraisal and/or ex-post evaluation. In some cases, enough information had been gathered to enable us to produce an ex-post estimate of value for money, using a bespoke Simplified Appraisal Framework (SAF) developed as part of this project. The study covered the following types of scheme: • Bus Quality Corridors; • Bus Priority; • Bus Stations / interchanges; • Bus Real Time Information (RTI); • Bus Park & Ride; • Bus vehicle quality improvements; • Rail station improvements, and; • Rail Park & Ride. With a median benefit of £3.5 for every £1 spent, the results suggest that small scale public transport schemes delivered by PTEs and local authorities can be at least as cost effective, if not more, as larger capital projects. According to Department for Transport guidance, BCRs between 1 and 2 represent medium value for money, between 2 and 4 represent high value for money, and above 4 represent very high value for money. Overall, every scheme in our sample exceeded a benefit:cost ratio of 1.5. On the other hand, several schemes reached BCRs above 3.0, notably some forms of bus priority, quality bus corridors and relatively low cost interventions such as information provision. These results dispel the notion that schemes that fall outside the major business case framework are poor value for money. In reality, all PTEs have decision making frameworks in place to help identify local investment priorities. Despite this, only a minority of sampled schemes had gone through a conventional economic appraisal. One important reason appears to be the degree of complexity and effort required by the DfT’s standard modelling and appraisal guidance, which is typically deemed to be disproportionate to the cost of small schemes. While some PTEs have developed streamlined in-house appraisal methods this is the exception rather than the rule. As part of this project, we have therefore developed a Simplified Appraisal Framework (SAF), which we hope could help support and strengthen local decision making processes where local methods do not currently exist. Application of the SAF to a sample of case studies has shown that it leads to broadly similar results as the sponsor’s original appraisals. This is encouraging and suggests that it may be possible to make use of simplifying assumptions without much loss of accuracy. Value for Money & Appraisal of Small Scale Public Transport Schemes, Issue No.05, July 2011 ii Although this project has already produced a considerable evidence base, some gaps were also identified, in particular with respect to the comparison of monitoring studies with ex-ante appraisal results. A second area for development is the conversion of the results of ex-post customer satisfaction surveys, which appear to be increasingly common, into more conventional measures of value for money. The current evidence base should therefore be seen as work in progress to be updated and developed by PTEs and other key stakeholders in the future

Terminal access study, Portland International Airport : Final report

152 pp. Bookmarks supplied by UO. Maps, charts, tables, appendices. Published March, 2005. Captured January 14, 2009.The purpose of this study was to update the 1994 Terminal Access Study, addressing all Airport access modes, including pedestrians, bicycles, buses/vans, light rail, private vehicles, and rental cars. [From the document

Commission

made an analysis, verified, or rendered an independent judgment of the validity of the information provided by others. While it is believed that the information contained herein will be reliable under the conditions and subject to the limitations set forth herein, Jacobs Consultancy does not guarantee the accuracy thereof. Use of this report or any information contained therein shall constitute a release and contract to defend and indemnify Jacobs Consultancy from and against any liability (including but not limited to liability for special, indirect or consequential damages) in connection with such use. Such release from and indemnification against liability shall apply in contract, tort (including negligence of such party, whether active, passive, joint or concurrent), strict liability or other theory of legal liability, provided, however, such release limitation and indemnity provisions shall be effective to, and only to, the maximum extent, scope, or amount allowed by law. This document, and the opinions, analysis, evaluations, or recommendation

An Economic Assessment of the Costs and Benefits of Natura 2000 Sites in Scotland. Final Report

This study was commissioned to conduct a detailed assessment of the economic costs and benefits of the Scottish N2K sites. Such knowledge can improve the cost-effectiveness of managing these sites

Master plan update, Portland International Airpont : Technical memorandum No. 2 -- Aviation demand forecasts

240 pp. Maps, charts, tables, figures, appendices. Published September, 2008. Captured January 29, 2009.This technical memorandum summarizes the aviation demand forecasts prepared for the 2010 Portland International Airport Master Plan Update. This technical memorandum also provides historical data on the regional population and economy, aviation activity at PDX, and national aviation and economic trends—all of which were the basis for the aviation demand forecasts presented in this document. [From the document

Master plan update, Portland International Airport : Technical memorandum No. 1 -- Inventory of existing conditions

181 pp. Maps, tables. Published September, 2008. Captured January 29, 2009.This technical memorandum presents an inventory of existing conditions (Inventory) related to the role of Portland International Airport (the Airport, or PDX) within the region, its current operations and facilities, and surrounding land uses and activities. [From the document