High Capacity Transit Task Force for the 2045 Regional Transportation Plan

The High Capacity Transit Task Force was created by the Transportation Policy Council to investigate the need and opportunity for high capacity transit in the Houston-Galveston region. In order to accomplish this, they used the REMI model to identify a transit vision for 2045, identify the costs associated with a range of transit options, identify the economic impacts on the region resulting from these options, and identify a Priority Network for the 2045 Regional Transportation Plan. A High Scenario, a Medium High Scenario, a Medium Low Scenario, and a Low Scenario were implemented to depict a range of high capacity transit options by cost. For each scenario, the Task Force calculated the economic impacts, which included travel time savings, value of increased safety, increased personal income, increased employment, gross domestic product, and regional output. The REMI model helped researchers discover that, compared to a no build scenario, significant benefits in excess of costs were found for all scenarios investing in additional high capacity transit infrastructure and services.

Houston-Galveston Area Council – High Capacity Transit Task Force for the 2045 Regional Transportation Plan [full PDF]

Economic Impact Analysis for H-GAC’s High Capacity Transit (HCT) Project

This analysis that was completed by the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) used the REMI TranSight model to evaluate the economic impacts of certain project investments that would factor into the region’s transportation plan. H-GAC sought out to measure the likelihood of economic activity and transportation efficiencies within the High Capacity Transit (HCT) projects, in addition to the macroeconomic effects. Researchers found that when using the REMI TranSight model, economic impacts can be considered and evaluated during planning for transportation projects, long-range system planning, or corridor planning. This report also involved combining the REMI model and a Travel Demand Model in order to strengthen the RPC and MPO Long-Range Transportation Plan with implementation strategies and data-driven recommendations.

Houston-Galveston Area Council – Economic Impact Analysis for HGAC’s High Capacity Transit (HCT) Project [full PDF]

Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement and Preliminary Section 4(f) Evaluation

The Arizona Department of Transportation incorporated their REMI TranSight model into their analysis of the environmental and economic impacts that correspond with improvements made to Interstate 11 in Arizona. They also accounted for the potential support that new highway interchanges and other transportation improvements might provide to various businesses. The draft report considered two alternatives: No Build and Build Corridor. Two types of impacts that were assessed include the short-term impacts resulting from construction-related expenditures and the long-term impacts resulting from production cost savings, amenity benefits, and consumption reallocation. Analysts also provided approaches for addressing I-11’s intended purpose of mitigation transportation issues and needs as it supports improved regional mobility for goods, people, and homeland security.

Arizona Department of Transportation – Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement and Preliminary Section 4(f) Evaluation [full PDF]

Macroeconomic Feedback Effects of Medicaid Expansion: Evidence from Michigan

The University of Michigan’s Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics (RSQE) selected the state of Michigan as a case study for evaluating Medicaid expansion and its state-level fiscal impacts. This analysis took into account the importance of macroeconomic feedback effects relative to the fiscal effects ordinarily estimated by state budget agencies. Michigan established the Healthy Michigan Plan (HMP) in 2014 and by December 2018, the plan covered more than 670,000 low-income residents. The REMI model was utilized in this report to analyze the macroeconomic feedback effects that correspond with the impacts in spending related to the HMP because of the importance of modeling year-by-year impacts and the model’s realistic dynamic employment and demographic responses. The methodology from this study can be incorporated into any state-level analysis of the fiscal impacts associated with expanding Medicaid.

University of Michigan – Macroeconomic Feedback Effects of Medicaid Expansion-Evidence from Michigan [full PDF]

Impacts of the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program on the Economies of California and Florida

The University of Southern California’s Sol Price School of Public Policy performed a regional economic impact analysis of Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing using the REMI PI+ model. Ygrene Energy Fund, Inc. had provided over $1.16 billion to finance more than 54,500 property improvement projects at the time of this report, with the majority of their projects being developed in California and Florida. The study’s researchers used the REMI model to evaluate the net impact in terms of gross output, gross domestic product, personal income, and employment of these financing projects on the two states’ economies. The aggregate stimulus effects from the expenditure of the PACE financing were found to generate an average annual increase in gross state product of $134.7 million and employment of 1,305 full-time equivalent jobs in California. Florida also enjoyed an average annual increase in gross state product of $51 million and employment of 603 jobs during the same study period.

University of Southern California – Impacts of the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program on the Economies of California and Florida [full PDF]