Epic - Cal-B/C Updates Prioritization

[shweta487]

Summary

The benefit-cost analysis tool developed by Caltrans is under consideration for enhancement particularly in integrating key components such as Equity, Climate Factors and Active Transportation. This issue focuses on the initial work identified after receiving the request from Transportation Economics Branch at Caltrans to upgrade and update the current model. A list of 13 changes has been identified with varying timeframes for implementation, of which DDS has prioritized a few for immediate attention. This issue will capture work updates, along with identified research questions that arise during the process of integrating the new data sources.

Task and Responsibilities

Tidying the data structure

• Move parameter tables onto different sheets for easier updates.
• Create new parameter sheet for each metric.
• Refer rest of the documents/ calculations to the new tidier parameter sheets and hide those.
• Maintain the parameters summary sheet for ease of review.
• Refer parameter sheets to the individual metric sheets.

Updating emissions parameters

• Include New Emission Parameters
• Review CARB guidance and reach out to CARB to get the latest emission data.
• Update CH4 Data in the Emission Parameter
• Update N2O Data in the Emission Parameter
• Update EMFAC data.
• Review previous data update process and duplicate the data updating example.
• Make Updates to Emission sheet
• Find dollar value of CH4 and N2O.
• Edit name manager to include new emission columns.
• Add new columns for CH4 and N2O data processing to Emission sheet.

Standardizing safety metrics

• Review Current Monetization and Safety Benefit Framework
• Review current monetization and safety benefit calculations.
• Update previous relevant data using the latest data.
• Integrate New Data Sources for Crash Cost Estimation
• Apply crash parameters by severity following KABCO scale as used by USDOT BCA guidelines.
• Use USDOT Value of Statistical Life (VSL) baseline costs to determine crash costs after incorporating the probability of multiple injuries in the cost of a crash.
• Use events/crash ratio provided by the Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) to calculate the cost of Highway crash.
• Finalize and Update Safety Benefit Calculation Methodology
• Update Safety Benefit sheet to reflect the new scale of safety benefit calculations.

Incorporating “welfare weights”

• Coordinate with Sustainability to get weights out of EQI.

Issues

• Create Testbed for Validating Data and Formulas in CalB/C #1334