EBP Supports $50 million in 2022 RAISE and INFRA Grant Awards

SH-37 BNSF Grade Separation and Multimodal Improvement Project, Moore, Oklahoma:  EBP conducted Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) and Economic Competitiveness and Mobility assessments to support a 2022 RAISE grant application for Oklahoma DOT on behalf of the City of Moore, Oklahoma.  The project received a $10 million award.  The multimodal project eliminates an at grade crossing of one of Moore’s major commercial thoroughfares by a major BNSF route, as well as construction of multimodal bridge and multiuse paths.  Project benefits captured by the BCA include travel time savings by eliminating the frequent closures when freight trains pass.  It also included reduced crashes, and environmental benefits such as emissions reductions and reduced train whistle noise.  The benefits further include elimination of dangerous delays when emergency vehicles are impeded, and the positive impacts of enhanced community connectivity and greater non-motorized transportation access. 

Wharf C Reconstruction and Resiliency Enhancement Project, Nuevo Port, Port of San Juan, Puerto Rico: EBP conducted BCA and Economic Competitiveness and Supply Chain assessments to support a 2022 RAISE grant application by the Port of Puerto Rico to restore and improve a key port facility in the Port of San Juan that had been severely damaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017.  The project received a $25 million award.  The BCA assessed the benefits of restoring Wharf C, which had been assessed by USACOE and FEMA as requiring major overhaul of concrete slabs, pilings, storage areas, electric distribution, and fire projection systems.  The BCA measured the benefits of port operational efficiencies, cost savings from reduced cargo handling, as well as reduced dwell times for container and other shipping throughout the entire Port of San Juan.  The analysis assessed the critical role of the port and Wharf C in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Maria and emphasized its future role in making Puerto Rico’s maritime-reliant economy more resilient to future hurricanes or other threats.

I-4 West Central Florida Truck Parking Facility: EBP conducted BCA to support a winning 2022 IINFRA large capital grant application for the Florida DOT, resulting in a $15 million award. The project, located in a rural area between Orlando and Tampa, is comprised of major interchange improvements as well as a new truck parking facility with approximately 120 spaces, electric charging stations, and pedestrian infrastructure to access nearby commercial amenities. It features major innovations including electronic linkage to FDOT’s Truck Parking Availability System to assist commercial vehicle operators in identifying available parking locations.  The six electrical hookups will provide stand-by power for refrigerated trucks and auxiliary power for in-cab comforts.  The project delivers significant benefits across a range of benefit types, including truck congestion reduction and crash reductions at the improved interchange location.  In addition, the project addresses a shortage in parking for commercial vehicles on a corridor between Tampa and Orlando, which carries an average of 18,000 trucks daily and reduces parking in unauthorized areas such as vacant lots or highway shoulders. By providing reliable parking capacity, this reduces time drivers spend searching for commercial vehicle parking, making supply chain movement more efficient. Additionally, the electric hookups and the reduced time searching for parking will decrease commercial vehicle emissions.  To facilitate the DOT’s review of the BCA and to provide greater information on the benefits of each of the project elements (interchange improvements and truck parking facility) EBP economists prepared a disaggregate BCA in which Benefit Cost ratios and NPV were estimated separately for each project element, and a combined BCA was also obtained.