Office of Operations
21st Century Operations Using 21st Century Technologies

Road Weather Management Benefit Cost Analysis Compendium

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United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration

U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Operations
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590

FHWA-HOP-16-093

April 2017


Table of Contents

[ Foreword ] [ Notice and Quality Assurance Statement ] [ Technical Report Documentation Page ] [ SI Modern Metric Conversion Factors ] [ List of Acronyms ]

CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION
Project Background and Purpose
The Federal Highway Administration Transportation Systems Management and Operations and Road Weather Management Compendia
The Federal Highway Administration Operations Benefit/Cost Analysis Desk Reference
Road Weather Management Strategies
CHAPTER 2. FUNDAMENTALS OF BENEFIT COST ANALYSIS
Economic Fundamentals
Inflation
Time Value of Resources
The Role of the Discount Rate
Selecting a Discount Rate
Benefit-Cost Analysis
The Benefit Cost Analysis Process
Benefit and Cost Elements to Include
Comparing Benefits to Costs
Misunderstandings
Avoiding Pitfalls
Presenting the Results of a Benefit Cost Analysis
CHAPTER 3. INTRODUCTION TO BENEFIT COST ANALYSIS TOOLS
Tool for Operations Benefit/Cost A Tool for Benefit Cost Analysis of Road Weather Management Strategies
Tool for Operations Benefit/Cost Current Safety Impact Defaults
Benefit-Cost Analysis for Road Weather Connected Vehicle Applications
Connected Vehicle System Basic Infrastructure Costs
Connected Vehicle Applications Benefit Estimation
How to Use the Compendium
CHAPTER 4. CASE STUDIES FOR SURVEILLANCE, MONITORING, AND PREDICTION
Case Study 4.1 Michigan Department of Transportation Regional Road Weather Management Information System Pre-deployment Studies
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Methodology
Model Run Results
Key Observations
Reference
Case Study 4.2 The Utah Department of Transportation Weather Operations/Road Weather Management Information System Program
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Methodology
Model Run Results
Key Observations
Reference
Case Study 4.3 Implementing a Bridge Condition Monitoring System for Water Scour
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Methodology
Model Run Results
Reference
Case Study 4.4 Road Weather Information System Deployment in Idaho
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Methodology
Model Run Results
Key Observations
Reference
Case Study 4.5 High Water Detection System in Texas
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Methodology
Model Run Results
References
CHAPTER 5. CASE STUDIES FOR INFORMATION DISSEMINATION
Case Study 5.1 – Rural Intelligent Transportation System Deployment – Oregon's Automated Wind Warning System
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Methodology
Model Run Results
Key Observations
Reference
Case Study 5.2 – Salt Lake City's Traffic Operations Center Study
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Methodology
Model Run Results
Key Observations
Reference
Case Study 5.3 – Motorist Advisory and Warning (Connected Vehicle Application)
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Methodology
Model Run Results
Case Study 5.4 – Information for Freight Carriers (Connected Vehicle Application)
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Methodology
Model Run Results
CHAPTER 6. CASE STUDIES FOR DECISION SUPPORT, CONTROL, AND TREATMENT
Case Study 6.1 – Minnesota Department of Transportation Gate Operations
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Methodology
Model Run Results
Key Observations
Reference
Case Study 6.2 – Hypothetical Road Closure Feasibility
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Methodology
Model Run Results
Key Observations
Case Study 6.3 – Hypothetical Freeway Systems: Dynamic Traffic Signal Control Systems Deployment and Feasibility
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Methodology
Model Run Results
Key Observations
Case Study 6.4 –Weather Responsive Signal Timing (Connected Vehicle Application)
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Methodology
Model Run Results
Case Study 6.5 –Road Condition Reporting Application in Wyoming
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Methodology
Model Run Results
Key Observations
Reference
Case Study 6.6 –Weather Responsive Active Traffic Management System in Oregon
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Methodology
Model Run Results
Reference
Case Study 6.7 – Variable Speed Limit (Connected Vehicle Application)
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Methodology
Model Run Results
CHAPTER 7. CASE STUDIES FOR WEATHER RESPONSE OR TREATMENT
Case Study 7.1 – Maintenance Decision Support System Implementation: The City and County of Denver
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Methodology
Model Run Results
Key Observations
Reference
Case Study 7.2 – Pooled Fund Maintenance Decision Support System Implementation
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Methodology
Model Run Results
Key Observations
Reference
Case Study 7.3 – Hypothetical Maintenance Decision Support System Implementation
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Model Run Results
Key Observations
Reference
Case Study 7.4 – Washington's Automated Anti-Icing System Study
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Methodology
Model Run Results
Key Observations
Reference
Case Study 7.5 – Bridge Prioritization for Installation of Anti-Icing Systems in Nebraska
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Methodology
Model Run Results
Key Observations
Reference
Case Study 7.6 – De-Icing in Iowa
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Methodology
Key Observations
Reference
Case Study 7.7 – Evaluation of North Dakota's Fixed Automated Spray Technology Systems
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Methodology
Model Run Results
Key Observations
Reference
Case Study 7.8 – Automatic Vehicle Location System Deployment in Kansas
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Methodology
Model Run Results
Key Observations
Reference
Case Study 7.9 – Hypothetical Study of the Use of Automatic Vehicle Location for Highway Maintenance Activities
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Methodology
Model Run Results
Key Observations
Case Study 7.10 – Enhanced Maintenance Decision Support System (Connected Vehicle Application)
Project Technology or Strategy
Project Goals and Objectives
Methodology
Model Run Results



List of Figures

Figure 1 Chart. Time series of costs and benefits.
Figure 2 Equation. Standard formula for discounting.
Figure 3 Equation. Discount factor.
Figure 4 Equation. Summation of discounted values.
Figure 5 Screenshot. Tool for Operations Benefit/Cost tabular display of benefit-cost analysis results
Figure 6 Screenshot. Kansas City graphic display of benefit-cost analysis results
Figure 7 Screenshot. Southwest Pennsylvania regional traffic signal program graphic display of benefit-cost a results
Figure 8 Chart. Multidimensional display from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission
Figure 9 Screenshot. Tool for Operations Benefit/Cost cost spreadsheet with connected vehicle cost items
Figure 10 Screenshot. Assumptions for all connected vehicle application benefit estimations
Figure 11 Screenshot. Tool for Operations Benefit/Cost cost estimate for a bridge condition monitoring system for water scour.
Figure 12 Screenshot. Tool for Operations Benefit/Cost safety benefit estimate for a bridge condition monitoring system for water scour.
Figure 13 Screenshot. Benefit-cost analysis results for a bridge condition monitoring system for water scour.
Figure 14 Screenshot. Tool for Operations Benefit/Cost opening screen.
Figure 15 Screenshot. Tool for Operations Benefit Cost cost sheet for the Idaho Transportation Department road weather information system, 2011-2012
Figure 16 Screenshot. Benefit cost ratio for season 2011-2012 and 2012-2013
Figure 17 Screenshot. Cost estimation for the Texas high water detection system
Figure 18 Screenshot. Benefit estimation for the Texas high water detection system
Figure 19 Screenshot. Benefit-cost analysis results for the Texas high water detection system
Figure 20 Screenshot. Annualized costs for motorist advisories and warnings
Figure 21 Screenshot. Benefit estimation assumptions for motorist advisory and warning system
Figure 22 Screenshot. Benefit estimation results for motorist advisory and warning system
Figure 23 Screenshot. Results for connected vehicle motorist advisory and warning system
Figure 24 Screenshot. Annualized costs for information for freight carriers
Figure 25 Screenshot. Tool for Operations Benefit-Cost Analysis parameters sheet modification for information for freight carriers
Figure 26 Screenshot. Benefit estimation assumptions for freight carriers
Figure 27 Screenshot. Benefit estimation results for information for freight carriers.
Figure 28 Screenshot. Results for the Connected Vehicle Information for Freight Carriers strategy.
Figure 29 Screenshot. Tool for Operations Benefit/Cost start page – estimate benefits and conduct benefit-cost analysis function
Figure 30 Screenshot. Tool for Operations Benefit/Cost navigation column for estimating costs – road weather management strategies
Figure 31 Screenshot. Cost estimate sheet from Tool for Operations Benefit/Cost for winter road closure analysis
Figure 32 Screenshot. Tool for Operations Benefit Cost navigation column for estimating benefits – road weather management strategies
Figure 33 Screenshot. Benefit estimate sheet from Tool for Operations Benefit/Cost for winter road closure analysis
Figure 34 Screenshot. Benefit estimate sheet from Tool for Operations Benefit/Cost for winter road closure analysis (continued)
Figure 35 Screenshot. Benefit cost analysis summary sheet (partial) from the Tool for Operations Benefit/Cost for winter road closure analysis
Figure 36 Screenshot. Annualized costs for weather responsive signal timing
Figure 37 Screenshot. Benefit estimation assumptions for weather responsive signal timing
Figure 38 Screenshot. Benefit estimation results for weather responsive signal timing
Figure 39 Screenshot. Results for weather responsive signal timing
Figure 40 Screenshot. Wyoming road condition reporting application cost estimation sheet and results as displayed within the Tool for Operations Benefit Cost
Figure 41 Screenshot. Benefit-cost analysis results for the Wyoming road condition reporting application as displayed within the Tool for Operations Benefit Cost
Figure 42 Screenshot. Cost estimation sheet in the Tool for Operations Benefit Cost for the Oregon weather responsive active traffic management system
Figure 43 Screenshot. Benefit estimation assumptions for the Oregon weather responsive active traffic management system
Figure 44 Screenshot. Benefit cost analysis results for the Oregon weather responsive active traffic management system
Figure 45 Screenshot. Annualized costs for variable speed limits for weather-responsive traffic management
Figure 46 Screenshot. Benefit estimation assumptions for variable speed limits for weather-responsive traffic management (summer season)
Figure 47 Screenshot. Benefit estimation result for variable speed limits for weather-responsive traffic management
Figure 48 Screenshot. Results for connected vehicle variable speed limit strategy
Figure 49 Diagram. The benefit cost analysis pathways framework
Figure 50 Graph. Benefit-cost methodology and relationship between level of service and costs
Figure 51 Screenshot. Tool for Operations Benefit Cost start page – estimate life-cycle costs function
Figure 52 Screenshot. Tool for Operations Benefit Cost navigation column for estimating costs – road weather management strategies
Figure 53 Screenshot. Tool for Operations Benefit Cost cost table edited for maintenance decision support system cost inputs
Figure 54 Screenshot. Tool for Operations Benefit/Cost navigation column for estimating benefits – road weather management strategies
Figure 55 Screenshot. Bottom of road weather management benefit spreadsheet
Figure 56 Screenshot. Tool for Operations Benefit Cost navigation column for estimating benefits – my deployments
Figure 57 Screenshot. Washington State Department of Transportation benefit-cost worksheet for collision reduction
Figure 58 Diagram. Adopted research methodology
Figure 59 Screenshot. Clear Roads benefit-cost analysis tool anti-icing selection
Figure 60 Screenshot. Clear Roads anti-icing benefit-cost analysis tool project parameters page
Figure 61 Screenshot. Clear Roads anti-icing benefit-cost analysis tool other cost buttons selected
Figure 62 Screenshot. Clear Roads anti-icing benefit-cost analysis tool cost page
Figure 63 Screenshot. Clear Roads anti-icing benefit-cost analysis tool benefits page
Figure 64 Screenshot. Clear Roads anti-icing user benefits calculator
Figure 65 Screenshot. Tool for Operations Benefit/Cost start page – estimate life-cycle costs
Figure 66 Screenshot. Tool for Operations Benefit/Cost new cost estimation worksheet for road weather management automatic vehicle location statewide deployment
Figure 67 Screenshot. Input variables and user-supplied data for use of automatic vehicle location for highway maintenance activities
Figure 68 Screenshot. Annualized costs for enhanced maintenance decision support system
Figure 69 Screenshot. Benefit estimation assumptions for enhanced maintenance decision support system
Figure 70 Screenshot. Benefit estimation result for enhanced maintenance decision support system
Figure 71 Screenshot. Results for connected vehicle maintenance decision support system

List of Tables

Table 1 Benefit and cost categories and elements.
Table 2 Clear Roads tabular display of benefit-cost analysis results.
Table 3 New Jersey Department of Transportation comparison of savings for the assumed reduction in duration of each incident.
Table 4 Summary of existing benefit cost analysis tools and methods for road weather management projects.
Table 5 Crash rates per million vehicle miles traveled
Table 6 Volume/capacity-ratio-sensitive crash rates per million vehicle miles traveled
Table 7 Default impact assumptions currently in the Tool for Operations Benefit/Cost
Table 8 Road weather connected vehicle application descriptions
Table 9 Application cost element matrix
Table 10 Road weather management case study list
Table 11 Case studies for surveillance, monitoring, and prediction
Table 12 Benefit cost analysis from Michigan Department of Transportation's regional pre-deployment studies
Table 13 Idaho Transportation Department road weather information system inventory by winter season
Table 14 Idaho Transportation Department road weather information system crash reduction benefits by winter season
Table 15 Distribution of crash reduction for the Idaho Transportation Department road weather information system, 2011-2012
Table 16 Case studies for information dissemination
Table 17 Goals, objectives and measures of effectiveness for the rural California / Oregon advanced transportation systems automated wind warning system
Table 18 Labor and equipment cost savings for automated wind warning systems
Table 19 Average delay costs per road closure (south coast system)
Table 20 Benefit cost calculations for automated wind warning systems
Table 21 Case studies for decision support, control, and treatment
Table 22 Average annual delay and associated costs due to closure of I-90
Table 23 Potential annual delay savings due to I-90 gates
Table 24 Potential annual accident cost savings due to I-90 gates
Table 25 Range of Interstate 90 gate system benefits/cost ratios
Table 26 Input variables and user supplied data for dynamic traffic signal control systems
Table 27 Benefit cost summary
Table 28 Case studies for weather response or treatment
Table 29 Net benefit calculation for maintenance decision support system (2009 dollars)
Table 30 Benefit and cost categories expected from a maintenance decision support system deployment
Table 31 Maintenance decision support system benefit cost summary
Table 32 Benefit costs summary from the Tool for Operations Benefit/Cost "My Deployments" sheet
Table 33 Sample de-icing project parameters
Table 34 Initial de-icing cost spreadsheet (automatically populated)
Table 35 Annual de-icing cost spreadsheet (manually populated)
Table 36 Agency de-icing strategy benefits
Table 37 User (motorist) benefits from a de-icing strategy – part 1
Table 38 User (motorist) benefits from a de-icing strategy – part 2
Table 39 Societal benefits from a de-icing strategy
Table 40 Total benefits from a de-icing strategy
Table 41 De-icing strategy benefit cost ratio
Table 42 Automated vehicle location system cost estimate for statewide deployment
Table 43 Benefit cost summary
Office of Operations