In a recent study for the FAA on the economic development benefits from airport runway expansions (with a focus on Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport), covering a panel of 35 large and medium hub airports over a 12 year period (1996-2007), a translog model of airport short run operating costs was developed and estimated. The purpose of this proposal is to extend this analysis in five specific directions. First, data will be updated to 2008 and, if possible, 2009. Second, in order to isolate as much as possible the effects of airports and landing capacity on economic development, the sample for the original study only included MSAs with one commmercial airport. Although not excluding Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, this did eliminate many of the largest MSAs and airports (e.g. Los Angeles, Chicago, New York). The proposed study will include these airports and explore how, if at all, this alters the economic development benefits of additional runway capacity. Second, the proposed study will develop and estimate a two output cost model, freight shipped and passengers served, which will provide additional insights on airport production technology (e.g. economies of scope), and on the impact that air freight has on economic development. Third, the original analysis included number of runways as a quasi-fixed factor of production to the exclusion of airport operating characteristics (e.g. retail and repair services, elevation, runway characteristics) that affect airport costs. By collecting these data (which are available) and including operating characteristics in the model, it will be possible to obtain better estimates of the underlying technology and of the impact that additional runway capacity has upon airport operating costs and, ultimately, upon economic development. Fourth, based upon the more general model, the proposed study will identify the link between airport operations and economic development and will expand the set of economic development indicators analyzed in the original study.

The ultimate objective of this project is to explore solutions for maximizing both port and freight industry productivity with better visibility, understanding, and measure of their operations and interactions. These interactions will include the gate queue behavior and communication (e.g. container arrival time) between the port and the freight industry. A video-based sensing system will be developed to provide better visibility of gate operations and activities (e.g. truck waiting time and characteristics of the queued trucks). By collaborating with the port and freight industry’s decision-makers about their processes and operations (e.g. freight dispatching and management), we will have a better understanding of all port operations. A stochastic simulation model of the interaction between the port and freight industry to provide better visibility and understanding on their interactions will be developed. The research team will work with the port and the freight industry, including Home Depot, to study port operations and freight management performance measures and decision-making processes. Through the study, we hope to identify new processes and an information sharing platform between the freight industry and the port of Savannah that can lead to more productive truck arrivals.

The transportation system is an important network established to ensure the mobility of people and goods between destinations. In addition, it also serves a vital role in responding to disasters, and therefore deserves special attention when those disasters threaten to decrease its support capability. The importance of maintaining this capability is highlighted by the inclusion of transportation system security as a separate planning factor in the 2005 Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users legislation. Incorporating security into the transportation planning process should be an ongoing effort of the state department of transportation (DOT), requiring modification as feedback of implementation methods is received. It does not mean transforming this transportation agency into a security agency, but rather incorporating a security perspective into the analysis of the system. This first involves establishing a more solid role as a coordinator in order to solidify vital linkages between agencies relevant to security planning. This interaction should reveal standardization issues the DOT can address in order to ensure effective collaboration, communication and coordination. Funding security measures may be difficult; but by incorporating security measures into initial analysis and planning processes, they can be brought into the broader concept of the system rather than simply added as additional funding needs. Nine roles are identified in this research for state DOTs to overcome these and other challenges faced in the process of incorporating security into the transportation planning process. Through these roles, state DOTs can ensure that security efforts reach the parts of the system that require them and begin to build a more secure system.

Note: Partial funding for this project came from the Southern Transportation Center

Transportation emissions are a significant contributor to climate change. Transportation plans and related documentation of metropolitan planning organizations and international cities were reviewed to ascertain whether climate change considerations are being incorporated into the transportation planning process. The review revealed that climate change considerations have not yet been included in a majority of cases in the transportation planning process, especially with regard to adapting transportation systems to the potential effects of climate change. Where such consideration did occur, the focus was on greenhouse gas emission mitigation where data collection techniques and analysis tools are better developed and already in place within many planning organizations. A conceptual framework for transportation planning is presented and used to illustrate how some agencies have considered climate change in each step of the planning process. Recommendations are provided on how greenhouse gas emission mitigation and climate adaptation strategies can be incorporated into the transportation planning process.

The major objective of the proposed research is to identify the relationship between new school location and urban development patterns. This objective includes understanding the rationale for school location decisions, examining historical data on such decisions and resulting residential and commercial development, investigating school location and local congestion levels, and developing recommendations for school siting decisions that consider transportation implications more fully.

A team of researchers from Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of Public Policy, the University of Georgia’s Department of Public Administration, and the Georgia Tech Research Institute have been conducting GTI sponsored research to assess the recent changes in Georgia Department of Transportation’s (GDOT) outsourcing of preconstruction engineering and technical services. Over the past decade the GDOT has initiated a series of organizational changes in an effort to absorb a rapid increase in the number consultants providing engineering and construction design services. The goal of this research is to help GDOT understand and manage the greater use of consultant contracts. Preliminary findings suggest that the recent organizational changes at GDOT have improved the recording of information to assess better past and ongoing contracts. The researchers are also recommending strategies for identifying bottlenecks in the execution of contracts among prime and sub consultants.

The recent organizational and process changes at GDOT include the creation of the Office of Consultant Design, adaptation of the cost proposal process, improvements to the operational flow of contracts through GDOT systems, changes in the preferred contract structures, and the addition of designated procurement officers and contract negotiators. All of these changes were done to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of GDOT contract management and this research is a formal process of assessing these impacts on information quality.

An overall increase in outsourcing and the use of consultants by public agencies makes this research important to many audiences outside of the GDOT community. Effective management and understanding of contracting is essential to the goals and efforts of public agencies at all levels of government.

In all, researchers are optimistic about their findings, and are further encouraged by the positive feedback they have received from GDOT. By taking a three pronged approach to their research assessment, the team is able to identify the ways in which GDOT has already improved information quality and suggest innovative techniques for continuing this assessment in the future.