Economic Effects of Highway Relief Routes on Small and Medium-Size Communities: Literature Review and Identification Issues

009291222000PDFTech ReportFHWA/TX-00/0-1843-1Project 0-1843BypassesExpresswaysEconomic impactsSmall citiesSmall townsMedium sized citiesCentral business districtsEconomic factorsExpress highwaysHighway bypassesTexasTexasUnited StatesUniversity of Texas at Austin. Center for Transportation ResearchHandy, S. L.Kubly, S.Jarrett, J.Srinivasan, S.University of Texas at Austin. Center for Transportation ResearchTexas. Dept. of TransportationUS Transportation CollectionHighway relief routes around small- or medium-size communities are an important element of the Texas Trunk System. These routes provide for the safe and efficient movement of through traffic and contribute to the growth of the Texas economy. For small- and medium-size communities, however, highway relief routes potentially bring both positive and negative impacts by reducing the flow of traffic through the center of town. While a relief route often means quieter, safer streets for the residents of the community, it can also lead to changes in the local economy that may or may not benefit local residents. Residents and business leaders in communities for which the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is proposing relief routes are understandably concerned about potential negative impacts. The purpose of this project is to provide TxDOT planners and engineers with reliable information they can use to address the questions and concerns of local residents and business leaders. This information will be based on experiences with previous relief route projects, including a quantitative analysis of the impacts of these routes on local economies, as well as in-depth case studies of the nature of these impacts in selected communities. This report summarizes the first phase of the research: the identification of key issues from the affected communities? perspective and from TxDOT?s perspective, a review of the literature on highway relief routes pertaining to theory and methodologies, and a summary of the findings of previous research on this topic. This report provides the basis for the work that follows by pointing to variables to include in the quantitative analysis, by identifying the questions to ask in the case studies, and by providing guidance regarding appropriate methodologies.85