A new report from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) highlights various economic and quality of life benefits delivered by state DOT infrastructure projects.
The report—entitled The Benefits of Transportation: The 2021 Round-Up of State DOT Solutions that Deliver Benefits to Communities and Citizens—showcases specific transportation projects and programs on a state-by-state basis that support economic development and improve people’s lives, AASHTO says.
Along with the report, an updated website features an interactive map that sorts the examples by state or by the type of benefit provided, such as increasing safety, protecting the environment, and boosting the economy.
The report also highlights a macroeconomic analysis conducted by the Florida Department of Transportation, which found that the state’s transportation projects should yield an average $4 of benefits for every dollar invested in all transportation modes, including highway, transit, rail, airports, seaports and waterways, and spaceports. That translates into $164 billion worth of economic benefits for Florida alone over the next 30 years—roughly $5.4 billion per year—in terms of economic value, AASHTO says.
“State DOTs strive to deliver the most effective and efficient transportation system possible, with the aim of strengthening and growing economic activity by increasing productivity, enhancing jobs and labor market accessibility, opening new markets for businesses, and optimizing supply chain efficiency for freight movement,” Jim Tymon, AASHTO’s executive director, said in a statement.
AASHTO said it builds its transportation policy recommendations around transportation serving as the “key facilitator” for a higher purpose: to provide the safest system possible, highest possible quality of life, economic growth, and the most robust economic opportunities for everyone.
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SOURCE: AASHTO
