Opportunities for Value Extraction Projects in Highway Rights-of-Way and Development of Feasibility Assessment Tool

Abstract

State departments of transportation (DOTs) have been trying to identify alternative and innovative sources of revenue and cost savings. One potential solution to funding issues that has gained recent attention is value extraction from highway rights-of-way (ROW). In this paper, first, the state-of-the-practice of value extraction projects in highway ROWs is established. Next, detailed analysis is conducted regarding three high-priority value extraction projects chosen by the Florida DOT including solar photovoltaic, light emitting diode (LED) lighting, and agricultural uses. The feasibility screening tools introduced in this paper integrate all of the research findings from the literature review, survey of state DOTs, and case studies of select projects and programs. The screening tools provide in a tabular form a thorough list of various technical and financial criteria that play an important role in choosing and implementing the related value extraction projects. The information provided for the individual value extraction project types can be used as a platform to successfully design and manage those projects in the highway ROW.