Multijurisdictional Project Evaluation in Chattanooga Urban Area

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to develop an analytically objective, quantitative method for use in prioritizing publicly funded transportation improvement projects. Traditionally, the decision-making process for evaluating transportation investment has been primarily influenced by political considerations. A more appropriate, empirical approach would be useful in optimizing the functional effectiveness of publicly invested funds in attaining the maximum benefit for the traveling public. The context for this discussion, although demonstrated in this paper at the local level, has application to any level of government decision making where through policy and allocation issues are being addressed. This includes federal, state, regional, and local government activities across all levels that are focused on initiating transportation improvements within the context of the public forum. The methods developed for optimizing public transportation monies are not presented as a replacement for the political decision-making process, but are presented as a framework for objective project prioritization, and are developed and demonstrated utilizing a local multistate metropolitan planning organization example in Chattanooga, Tenn.