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