Project

TPICS/EconWorks

EconWorks Case Studies is the U.S. national database of case studies documenting transportation project impacts on local area economies and land use. The database is publicly accessible via a web-based software system developed by EDR Group (now EBP).

The system operates as a SAAS (Software as a Service) product, operated on a cloud platform and publicly available to all. It was initially funded by the US Congress under the SHRP2 (Strategic Highway Research Program), with additional case studies funded by TCRP (Transit Cooperative Research Program). EDR Group initially designed the system as TPICS (Transportation Project Impact Case Studies). It’s funding was subsequently taken over by the U.S. Dept. Of Transportation and AASHTO, which renamed it EconWorks. AASHTO then funded EDR Group to enhance and reprogram the web-based software interface.

The TPICS/EconWorks system has powerful search and screening features that allow transportation planners and analysts to search for specific types of projects in specific types of settings, enabling them to learn about typical impacts and factors affecting those impacts. The available information includes descriptions of project features and pre/post data pertaining to project impacts on the local or regional economy. It also includes detailed results from local interviews on project objectives, implementation issues and other factors affecting the nature of project impacts. Aerial photos and links to other reports are also provided. Lessons learned from these experiences can be used to improve project design and implementation processes.

A second feature of the software system is its expert system that uses the findings from past projects to estimate the likely range of impacts from proposed new projects. It provides a form of "analysis by analogy," in that it identifies a reasonable range for expected impacts of proposed projects, based on prior experiences. That makes it applicable as a screening tool for early stage project assessment.

For more information, please see the EconWorks website