Administration of Highway and Transportation Agencies. Assessing and Communicating the Economic and Quality of Life Benefits of Transportation Infrastructure Investments: Message Testing

In 2020, the report for NCHRP Project 23-01, “Assessing and Communicating the Economic and Quality of Life Benefits of Transportation Infrastructure Investment” was provided to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The research for that project developed evidence-based messaging that state DOTs are using to raise public awareness of the economic and quality of life benefits of transportation infrastructure investments. The study differed from past research in its explicit focus on benefits experienced in people’s daily lives, for example by gaining more control over one’s time, having a less stressful commute, or having more jobs in one’s community. An illustrated guide provided messages and strategies for integrating them into both routine DOT communications and specialized campaigns. NCHRP 20-24(137) will refine and market-test the messages in a more realistic, practical context than was possible during NCHRP Project 23-01. The objective of this research was to build upon the results of NCHRP Project 23-01 to evaluate and refine messages and materials that communicate economic and quality-of-life benefits of transportation infrastructure investments. The research will evaluate customer responses to fully developed communications pieces that incorporate graphics and more specific pitches. These sample communications included both urban-based multimodal messages and rural messages focused on mobility and accessibility. The audience for the research results and products are communications practitioners at state DOTs, as well as agency leadership.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5078

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $150000
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 20-24(137)

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Transit Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Hartell, Ann

• Performing Organizations:

  WSP USA

  One Penn Plaza
  250 W 34th Street
  New York, New York  United States  10119
• Principal Investigators:

  Hammond, Paula

• Start Date: 20211108
• Expected Completion Date: 20231222
• Actual Completion Date: 20231222

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Economic benefits; Focus groups; Infrastructure; Investments; Public information programs; Public opinion; State departments of transportation
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Bridges and other structures; Economics; Society; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01765836
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 20-24(137)
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Feb 23 2021 11:27AM