"realistic levels" noted in the SDEIS/DEIS. "TDM experiences have shown that TDM programs at individual employment sites can reduce vehicle trips by up to 30 to 40 percent and is very cost-effective. For example, the daily cost of accommodating each additional single occupant vehicle on a crowded highway network is about $6.75 each way. High occupancy vehicle travel can save substantially." P. A-7 "[T]raffic volumes on sections of Verona Road were 50,750 to 59,300 vehicles per day (vpd), and they are projected to grow to 53,700 to 69,000 vpd by the year 2030." ES-3 "Anticipated Cost in Year of Construction ... $502.5 Million..." ES-9
It is tragic that portions of the plan's purely numeric analysis seem to be ignored. Even when favorable alternatives exist they have been discarded and discounted. Using the plan's own numbers it is easy to make a case against it in favor of other less costly alternatives. (I will use the SDEIS/DEIS's numbers to make my points; however if I were to question the plan's figures my arguments would be made ten-fold stronger by including externalized costs associated with ownership and use of a motor vehicle and the corresponding negative impact on society.) Without so much as stating it, combining these (above, quoted) several statements, the report can be read to conclude mathematically: Take at face value the $502,500,000 / $6.75 each = 74,440,000 trips to pay for the cost of the planned 2.2 miles for reconstructing the freeway. There are expected to be 59,300 trips per day, so it would take 74,440,000 / 59,300 = 1255 days (3.5 years) for the project to pay for itself. Is there going to be a $6.75 per trip toll booth included in the project? After 4 or 5 years the toll would then be re-directed towards operations maintenance, presumably. But the SDEIS/DEIS does not address user fees. Projected cost is $502,500,000 for 2.2 miles. In year 2030 forecast are 59,300 trips/day * 365 days/year = 21,600,000 trips/year. What is the lifespan of the completed project before major reconstruction? 20 years? 40 years? So $502,500,000 / 21,600,000 trips = $58.15/trip-years / 20 years = $1.16. (Or $0.58 for a 40 year freeway). The toll just went down! Drop a few quarters in the toll both hopper for 2.2 miles anyone? But the SDEIS/DEIS does not address the obvious user fee opportunity. If congestion is costing up to 100 seconds additional wait time per trip and that 59,300 trips per day are expected, the project is not actually being built for travel capacity (59,300 trips/day) but rather to improve each trip by 100 seconds each. Or stated mathematically 100 * 59,300 = 5,930,000 trip-seconds. $502,500,000 / 5,930,000 = $84 per trip-second. Or $5,040 per hour. The SDEIS/DEIS does not justify this hourly travel rate. --- "Comments on the SDEIS are encouraged from all members of the public and are due by Friday, December 17, 2010." http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/d1/verona/index.htm These are comments on the supplemental and draft environmental impact statement (SDEIS/DEIS) reports for the Dane County US 18/151 (Verona Road) corridor. I've edited these down to bite size quick reads... --- _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org
