Overview:

 

The Transportation Economics Branch provides transportation decision makers with expert research, analysis and legislative information to ensure productive and efficient use of public resources. The branch conducts economic analyses such as performing benefit-cost, economic impact and estimating motorist value of time. In addition, the branch publishes a county socioeconomic forecast and an overview of transportation funding in California. The branch assists Caltrans's Headquarters and district offices as well as entities such as the California State Transportation Agency, the California Transportation Commission, and external stakeholders. The Transportation Economics Branch can be reached at eab@dot.ca.gov. 

Major activities of the Branch include:

Resources

• Transportation Economics Links
• Transportation Funding in California
• EconWorks Economic Analysis Training
• USDOT Benefit-Cost Analysis

Studies

• Economic Impact Analysis
• Long-Term Socio-Economic Forecasts by County

The California Life-Cycle Benefit/Cost Analysis Model (Cal-B/C)

• Cal-B/C Training
• Historical Technical Documents

Cal-B/C is a suite of Excel workbooks developed by Caltrans’s Transportation Economics Branch to provide decision-makers with the ability to assess the benefits and costs of transportation projects associated with the highway system. Cal-B/C is continuously updated to ensure that it aligns with current transportation benefit-cost findings and practices. Cal-B/C consists of five modules: 1) Cal-B/C Sketch, 2) Cal-B/C Active Transportation (AT), 3) Cal-B/C Park and Ride (PnR), 4) Cal-B/C Corridor, and 5) Cal-B/C Intermodal Freight (IF). The Cal-B/C Sketch model is periodically modified to comply with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s “Benefit-Cost Analysis Guidance for Discretionary Grant Programs".

Cal-B/C Modules

• Cal-B/C Input Sheets (XLSM)

The Input Sheet workbook highlights data requirements needed to run Cal-B/C Sketch, AT, or PnR, based on the type of project.

• Cal-B/C Sketch v8.1 (XLSM)

  • Cal-B/C Sketch v8.1 User's Guide (PDF)

Cal-B/C Sketch version 8.1 is Caltrans’s California Benefit/Cost Analysis tool which focuses on highway and transit physical and operational improvements.

• Cal-B/C AT v8.1 (XLSM)

  • Cal-B/C AT Guide v8.1 User's Guide (PDF)

Cal-B/C AT version 8.1 is Caltrans’s California Benefit/Cost Analysis tool which focuses on active transportations modes (e.g., biking and walking facilities).

• Cal-B/C Corridor v8.1 (XLSM)

  • Cal-B/C Corridor v8.1 User's Guide (PDF)

Cal-B/C Corridor version 8.1 is Caltrans’s California Benefit/Cost Analysis tool which focuses on highway and transit modes, allowing the use of post-process travel demand and micro-simulation model data.

• Cal-B/C IF v8.1 (XLSM)

  • Cal-B/C IF v8.1 User's Guide (PDF)

Cal-B/C IF version 8.1 is Caltrans’s California Benefit/Cost Analysis tool which focuses on intermodal freight improvements (e.g., freight network expansion and terminal efficiency).

• Cal-B/C PnR v8.1 (XLSM

  • Cal-B/C PnR v8.1 User's Guide (PDF)

Cal-B/C PnR version 8.1 is Caltrans’s California Benefit/Cost Analysis tool which focuses on park-and-ride strategies (e.g., commuter parking and ride-sharing facilities).

• SB-1 Emissions Calculator (XLSM)

The Senate Bill 1 (SB1) Grant Programs Emissions Calculator estimates emission changes for proposed transportation projects that are not quantifiable under the suite of Cal-B/C modules. This calculator uses a methodology similar to the one developed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for the California Freight Investment Program (CFIP).

* Note: Cal-B/C emission rates were updated from EMFAC 2017 to EMFAC 2021. Cal-B/C v8.1 and the Emissions Calculator reflects this change.

Cal-B/C Modules for Federal Discretionary Grants

INFRA/ RAISE 2024

• Cal-B/C 2024 INFRA/ RAISE Sketch Model v8.1 (XLSM)

Cal-B/C INFRA/BUILD Sketch Model version 8.1 is Caltrans’s California Benefit/Cost Analysis tool which focuses on highway and transit modes based on US DOT’s Benefit-Cost Analysis Guidance for Discretionary Grant Programs.

• Cal-B/C 2024 INFRA/ RAISE Corridor Model v8.1 (XLSM)

Cal-B/C INFRA/BUILD Corridor version 8.1 is Caltrans’s California Benefit/Cost Analysis tool which focuses on highway and transit modes allowing the user to post-process travel demand and micro-simulation model data based on US DOT’s Benefit-Cost Analysis Guidance for Discretionary Grant Programs.

• Cal-B/C 2024 INFRA/ RAISE AT Model v8.1 (XLSM)

Cal-B/C INFRA/BUILD AT Model version 8.1 is Caltrans’s California Benefit/Cost Analysis tool which focuses on active transportations modes (e.g., biking and walking facilities) based on US DOT’s Benefit-Cost Analysis Guidance for Discretionary Grant Programs.

• Cal-B/C 2024 INFRA/ RAISE IF Model v8.1 (XLSM)

Cal-B/C IF version 8.1 is Caltrans’s California Benefit/Cost Analysis tool which focuses on intermodal freight improvements (e.g., freight network expansion and terminal efficiency) based on US DOT’s Benefit-Cost Analysis Guidance for Discretionary Grant Programs.

• Cal-B/C 2024 INFRA/ RAISE PnR Model v8.1 (XLSM)

Cal-B/C PnR version 8.1 is Caltrans’s California Benefit/Cost Analysis tool which focuses on park-and-ride strategies (e.g., commuter parking and ride-sharing facilities) based on US DOT’s Benefit-Cost Analysis Guidance for Discretionary Grant Programs.

* Federal Discretionary Guidance 2024 Value Comparison Table (PDF)

* The model and comparison table is in accordance with the 2023 federal Benefit-Cost Analysis Guidance for Discretionary Grant Programs

Cal-B/C Version 8.1 Parameter Technical Documentation

• Cal-B/C Parameter v8.1 User's Guide and Technical Documentation (PDF)

December 21, 2017 Cal-B/C Workshop

December 21, 2017 Cal-B/C Webinar Recording - Morning Session

December 21, 2017 Cal-B/C Webinar Recording - Afternoon Session

January 16, 2018 Cal-B/C Workshop

January 16, 2018 Cal B/C Webinar Recording - Morning Session

January 16, 2018 Cal B/C Webinar Recording - Afternoon Session