Projects

Institutional and Financial Analysis of Weigh Station Performance in Georgia
07/06/2010
11/01/2011
Completed
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
Download final report by clicking here.

This study will examine the institutional and financial structure of Georgia's truck weighing strategy. With declining state budgets, the staff working at the state's weigh stations has been reduced, resulting in fewer operating hours. The impact of this reduced operation on the number of overweight trucks operating on the road without permits will be examined in this research. This study will examine the recent history of truck weighing efforts in the United States and the corresponding impact on permit revenues. Recommendations will be made that in essence makes a business case for improving the operation of the weigh-in-motion stations.

Implications of Alternate Revenue Sources for Transportation Planning
09/15/2010
Completed
Georgia State University, Atlanta
Download final report by clicking here.

As current funding sources are proving to be inadequate, alternative revenue sources, such as the VMT tax, sales tax, energy tax, parking tax, tolls, and others, are used or discussed around the United States to provide financing of transportation (improvement). In addition, these revenue sources are also designed in part to affect travel behaviors through the internalizing of travel costs. This research will measure stated and revealed behavior with respect to such alternative funding sources by conducting focus group and survey research.

Assessment of the Impact of Future External Factors on Road Revenues
07/06/2010
07/05/2011
Completed
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
Download final report by clicking here.

National studies have concluded that future petroleum-based gas taxes are not likely going to be sufficient to meet the needs of state transportation programs. What will happen to annual transportation revenues in Georgia over the next 30 years if the Motor Fuel Tax is not replaced? How do these revenue streams change if many of the strategies proposed under demand management, clean air, land use and transportation planning to reduce VMT are successful? This study will examine key trends in Georgia, declining VMT, increasing gas mileage, denser land use, and travel demand management strategies, that will cumulatively act to reduce the level of funding generated from the motor vehicle tax. The study will quantify the likely impacts and identify alternative funding sources.

Impact of Environmental Justice Considerations in Transportation Planning and Decision Making
08/15/2010
Completed
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
Download final report by clicking here.

This project will examine how environmental justice factors are considered in the transportation planning and decision making process. The intent is to assess the current approach and develop strategies for improving such consideration.

Freight Performance Measures for Trucking in Georgia
08/15/2010
Completed
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
Download final report by clicking here.

An efficient trucking sector is essential to the State's economic prosperity. However, rapid growth in trucking is placing a growing burden on state highways, in terms of both pavement maintenance and repair costs and congestion-induced traffic delays. To support better freight planning this project will:

  1. Develop a set of performance metrics that can be used to evaluate and track trucking industry performance and its impacts on the State's economy and the environment, identify developing problems, and plan improvements in truck freight mobility and access

  2. Identify and assess how well existing databases and other data sources support the proposed performance metrics

  3. Identify methods and the level of effort required for collecting data to support improved performance measurement in the future.

Special attention will be given to measures of travel time reliability, and to operation of the State's high volume, long haul trucking corridors and their linkages to within-state seaports and rail intermodal facilities.