The Economic Impact of Improved Network Efficiency and Operations and Maintenance Spending Due to the New Mexico Rail Runner Express

This report documented an analysis performed by The Mid-Region Council of Governments regarding the economic impact of the New Mexico Rail Runner Express to the region it served using the REMI TranSight model. For this project, a five-region model was developed that included Bernalillo, Sandoval, Valencia, and Santa Fe Counties and the rest of New Mexico, which allowed for analysis of inter-county commuting along the Rail Runner line. Some key aspects of commuter rail service were summarized in this report such as the economic impact of improved network efficiency and operations and maintenance expenditures on the region. It was estimated that a more efficient network and operations and maintenance spending created 845 jobs, improved the health care, retail trade and construction industries, decreased employment growth due to increases in efficiency of service, and raised the gross regional product by $1.2 billion over 15 years.

The Mid-Region Council of Governments – The Economic Impact of Improved Network Efficiency and Operations and Maintenance Spending Due to the New Mexico Rail Runner Express [full PDF]

Regional Economic Impacts of a Toll Road in West Virginia: A REMI Model Approach

Due to little available information on regional economic effects of a toll road using toll rate scenarios, this paper was created to explore the economic impacts of a toll road under different scenarios using the REMI model. The report forecasted annual toll transactions and revenue estimations for the 2009-2030 period and measured positive and negative economic impacts of toll revenues on state employment, income, and gross state product using a potential toll plaza in West Virginia. The estimation results indicated that toll rate increases generally led to smaller transactions of vehicles, and higher toll rates resulted in a larger reduction in traffic volume long-term. Analysts also discovered positive net economic impacts for all toll rate scenarios on state employment, income, and gross state product, suggesting that the benefits of the tolling largely overshadow the costs for a region.

Marshall University – Regional Economic Impacts of a Toll Road in West Virginia: A REMI Model Approach [full PDF]

The Economic Impacts of the New Economy Initiative in Southeast Michigan

The New Economy Initiative was found to have a positive impact on southeastern Michigan since its inception in 2008. The REMI model was able to estimate that companies supported by this initiative increased Southeast Michigan’s GDP by $1.9 billion in 2015 and will theoretically continue to increase that impact to $2.9 billion by 2020. Wages and salaries in the Detroit area also increased by a cumulative $1.1 billion in 2015 and should get to $1.8 billion by 2020. The NEI helps foster local conditions for the businesses they protect in order to support new business formation, growth, and development.

PWC – New Economy Initiative [full PDF]

Contribution of a Vehicle Infrastructure Integration System to the Economy of Michigan: Economic and Industrial Impacts Update and Benefit-Cost Analysis

The Michigan Department of Transportation requested that the Center for Automotive Research conduct a study of the economic impacts of vehicle infrastructure integration on the State of Michigan, including the effects on employment and a comparison of net costs and benefits. Vehicle infrastructure integration consisted of applying both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication to the tasks of improving safety, enhancing mobility and improving quality of life. The study determined that the annual costs to the State of Michigan of deploying, operating, and maintaining a vehicle infrastructure integration system could cost approximately $370 million. Despite this hefty price tag, the system would add over 16,000 annual full-time jobs to the state and would contribute $177 million in income tax revenues. This study decided it would be a good idea for the state of Michigan to proceed on developing and deploying a comprehensive vehicle infrastructure integration system, even though all questions were not resolved by this analysis.

Center for Automotive Research – Contribution of a Vehicle Infrastructure Integration System to the Economy of Michigan: Economic and Industrial Impacts Update and Benefit-Cost Analysis [full PDF]

Estimating the Impact of the Massachusetts Film Production Tax Incentives: A Preliminary Analysis

The REMI model simulated the structure of and interrelationships among the various parts of the Massachusetts economy for the Department of Revenue’s hypothetical “dynamic” analysis of the Massachusetts film industry tax incentives. For this type of analysis, the REMI model required that assumptions be made regarding the amount of total spending on Massachusetts-based film productions and how that spending was divided between payroll and other production expenses. It also required that, if known, the inputs be adjusted to account for the amount of payroll paid to non-Massachusetts residents. These assumptions were total film production spending, payroll expenses for non-residents, film production spending that would have occurred in the Commonwealth in the absence of tax incentives, and a balanced budget requirement. The model projected that with no balanced budget requirement, Massachusetts total output would increase by $368 million and total employment would increase by 4,044-5,314, of which 1,693-2,963 would be direct employment in the film industry.

Massachusetts Department of Revenue – Estimating the Impact of the Massachusetts Film Production Tax Incentives: A Preliminary Analysis [full PDF]