Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation of Hoosier Helper Freeway Service Patrol

Abstract

Hoosier Helper is an Indiana Department of Transportation sponsored roving freeway service patrol, providing free assistance to motorists stranded on portions of Interstate 80-94 and Interstate 65 in Northwest Indiana, which started on August 30, 1991. This paper presents a detailed evaluation of the Hoosier Helper freeway service patrol. Specifically, the study results will include a benefit-cost ratio for each of two distinct Hoosier Helper operating scenarios: Daytime patrol and 24-h patrol. The calculation of agency cost concerns an aggregation of equivalent annual investment cost, employee salaries and benefits, overhead cost, and maintenance cost for Hoosier Helper. The following components comprise the estimation of Hoosier Helper benefit: Nonrecurrent congestion delay savings, secondary crash reduction, and vehicle operating cost savings. The study yielded a 4.71:1 benefit-cost ratio for the daytime program operation and a 13.28:1 benefit-cost ratio for the 24-h program operation. The increase in benefit-cost ratio magnitude, brought about by Hoosier Helper's change to 24-h operation, clearly supports the program's operating strategy as it exists today.