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Economic & Financial Analysis

About Us
Overview:
 
The Economic and Financial Analysis Unit provides Highway Fund revenue forecasts, feasibility studies, cash flow forecasting, revenue impact analysis, and DMV transaction forecasting.
 
In addition, the unit provides economic, financial and policy studies. These include Highway cost allocation studies, comparisons of state automobile taxes, motor carrier fee and tax comparisons, transportation finance studies, benefit-cost analysis, estimates of value of travel time and cost of delay, and estimates of job and income generation from construction projects.
 
Finally, the unit manages and prepares the Immediate Opportunity Fund Policy Guidelines and annual report.
 


What We Do:

 

Economists at ODOT help the agency carry out its mission by assisting staff, managers, and the Oregon Transportation Commission in making more-informed decisions on development of policy and long-range plans, budgeting, and program and project selection. In this role economists:
  • Incorporate economic considerations into goals, plans, programs, and projects
  • Provide policy analysis and development services (i.e., discern the consequences of potential policy changes, assist in policy development)
  • Assess impacts of legislative proposals
  • Prepare biannual Highway Fund revenue forecasts
  • Support the development of biennial highway cost allocation studies
  • Address truck size and weight issues
  • Estimate vehicle miles of travel for various vehicle classes
  • Analyze economic development issues related to transportation
  • Estimate and quantify impacts--including job and economic development impacts for existing and potential projects and plans
  • Assess the distribution of impacts (i.e., who gains, who loses, and to what degree)
  • Estimate future demand (how much of something is needed given the status of the economy, demographics, markets, and expected prices)
  • Provide quantitative support for major transportation plans
  • Evaluate and recommend resource allocation (i.e., determine the best use of limited resources to address specific goals)
  • Conduct financial analyses (including Highway Fund cash flow, local government analyses, congestion pricing revenue analysis, and development of long-term financial assumptions for planning purposes)
  • Review tollway project proposals for the Oregon Transportation Commission
  • Analyze proposals for alternative funding (e.g., mileage-based fees)
  • Assist with the development of program tools (e.g., Least Cost Planning/Mosaic)
  • Provide economic consultation services for project planning, scoping oversight, program planning, financial analysis and technical reports

The unit also has a lead role in the implementation and administration of two funding mechanisms for ODOT:

  • The Transportation Operating Fund
  • The Immediate Opportunity Fund (in conjunction with Business Oregon)