Project

Appalachian Development Highway System: Economic Impact

For the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), EBP (formerly EDR Group) performed an ex-post analysis of the impact that implementation of the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) has had on the Appalachian region, as well as the likely future impact of completing the system. The analysis includes the modeling of transportation and economic conditions, mapping of accessibility, and consideration of business attraction and trade effects of the system.

This report reviews and summarizes the findings of previously published studies on the impacts of the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) on economic growth and transportation connectivity in Appalachia. The collective findings of these reports cover a wide-range of topics including: (a) research on the ADHS role in regional economic growth and development,(b) studies of impacts associated with specific ADHS corridor projects and their connection to multi-modal transportation facilities, and (c) emerging issues concerning the role of the ADHS network in enabling national highway connectivity and an emerging intermodal freight system.

This is the first volume in an ongoing study that more broadly analyzes the ways that ADHS development has affected economic growth in Appalachia, and the future economic benefits and costs of completing the ADHS.

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