Florida Department of

TRANSPORTATION

Office of Policy Planning

Abbreviations in this issue:

1. Analysis of Future U.S. Highway Performance – This report analyzes traffic congestion on U.S. roads based on data from the INRIX 2012 Traffic Scorecard.
2. Modeling Seniors' Activity-Travel Data - This study seeks to understand the dynamics of elderly activity-travel behavior and its potential effects on the transportation system to better identify and meet seniors' transportation needs. It analyzes elderly tour formation, activity-trip planning, mode-choice selection, and activity timing.
3. Engaging the Public in Critical Disaster Planning and Decision Making: Workshop Summary (Login Required) - This summary highlights the key principles of public engagement during the development of disaster plans, the response phase, and during the dissemination phase when interested community partners and the general public are informed of the policies that have been adopted.
4. Revive Build America Bonds (BABs) to Support State and Local Investments – This report emphasizes the need to reinstate the BABs program to encourage budget-constrained state and local governments to invest in economically critical infrastructure projects. The program would provide flexible, low-cost financing for a broad range of infrastructure projects that will create jobs and foster economic growth for years to come.
5. Executive Report: Toll Roads, Toll Rates, and Driver Behavior - This report gathers information on the topic of toll roads, toll rates, and driver behavior. Some of the findings include:
   • Truckers and trucking companies view toll roads significantly differently than the average passenger car driver. Travel time savings and avoiding congestion are generally less important than the actual cost of the tolls and their inability to pass those costs to their customers.
   • Drivers require more information on toll roads: where they are located, how/where to access them, how to pay for the toll transaction, how much time will they save by taking a toll road versus a free alternative, who operates a given toll road, etc.
   • Raising toll rates actually increases revenue while lowing toll rates will increase traffic volumes at the expense of toll revenue.
6. Miscellaneous Reports
   • Risks Associated with Natural Disasters, Climate Change, Man-Made Disasters and Security Threats (Login Required)– This report describes a methodology for evaluating risks associated with all hazards, highlights practical techniques for managing risks associated with natural disasters, provides a snapshot of efforts in managing climate change risks and the adaptation of transportation infrastructure around the world, and proposes the transformation of the Risk Management Toolbox into a web-application tool.
   • The Role of Behavioral Economics in Residential Choice - This study examines the relationship of travel patterns, housing characteristics, social connections, and subjective well-being, using a survey of undergraduates before and after a planned move.
   • Transportation Snapshots - This site provides a series of snapshots of Florida's transportation system.

For further information contact Monica Zhong or phone (850) 414-4808