Overcoming Impediments and High Costs for Infrastructure Projects in the Northeast Megaregion

This project will identify new roles for Metropolitan Planning Organizations, state Departments of Transportation and metropolitan transportation authorities in planning, priority setting and promoting greater economic and social accessibility for megaregion-scale transportation investments in the Northeast Megaregion. A major focus of the project will be on the Northeast's extensive regional rail network and opportunities to modernize and expand this network. A special focus of this research will be on the impacts that innovations in transportation technology and commuting patterns could have on the utility of regional rail systems. For example, will the growth of shared mobility and automated vehicles reduce or eliminate the "first and last mile" challenge for regional rail riders? Will the increase in telecommuting make it possible for riders to commute one or two days a week? This project will also examine strategies to improve project finance and delivery for major investment proposals for this system. What is the role of Public-private partnerships (P3s) in financing improvements to regional rail networks? Can innovative permitting and procurement systems (e.g. CEQ's "dashboard" process for accelerating NEPA reviews, and Design / Build or DBOM) procurement lower costs and speed construction? Can special purpose delivery entities, such as the UK's Crossrail Ltd or the California High-speed Rail Authority, increase the efficiency and expedite the delivery of capital investments?

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $ 49800
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3551747135

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Department of Transportation

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  Department of Transportation
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  University Transportation Centers Program

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Department of Transportation

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  Department of Transportation
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  University Transportation Centers Program

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

  Stearns, Amy

• Performing Organizations:

  Cooperative Mobility for Competitive Megaregions

  University of Texas at Austin
  Austin, TX  United States  78712
• Principal Investigators:

  Taylor, Marilyn

  Yaro, Robert

• Start Date: 20170901
• Expected Completion Date: 20180831
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Commuting; Costs; Impacts; Investments; Project delivery; Regional planning; Regional railroads; Technological innovations; Transportation planning; Travel patterns
• Geographic Terms: Northeastern United States
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01650973
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Cooperative Mobility for Competitive Megaregions
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551747135
• Files: UTC, RiP
• Created Date: Nov 16 2017 9:47AM