Horizontal/Subsurface Infrastructure & Transportation

I was talking with a fellow working as an executive managing director for one of the biggest shopping malls in our area right by the exit from one of the severely congested interstates. He was complaining about losing customers as a result of traffic congestion.  Are there any studies reporting business losses and how much value can be added to the region’s economy once this problem is addressed? 

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Hasan Ozer A.M.ASCE
Research Assistant Professor
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign IL
(217)417-9914
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Hello All

We got similar situation where some business owners have some concerns when the city repaved the two-lane street into divided two lane street. Also, when the city removed the traffic light and have a single roundabout!

Good question.

Majed

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Majed Al-Ghandour Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE
Manager - Engineering Manager
Raleigh NC
(919)395-8859

The decline of sales at nation-wide large brick-and-mortar retailers has been primarily from internationally-focused online shopping retailers such as amazon.com. I believe a different business model for retailers (both online and brick-and-mortar) will emerge that would likely involve collaboration with an unexpected though entrenched player in another transportation space, such as vehicle manufacturer or ride-share platform. That would be an exciting wave to ride for whoever figures out and succeeds in implementing that model.

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Ranjit Sahai P.E., F.ASCE
Principal
RAM Consulting Corporation
Dulles, VA 20166
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Enlightened subject - regions with higher realization of traffic flow efficiency and tax base contributions to an entity's economic well being consider traffic impacts more than backward regions.  However, I think that quantification is extremely variable and depends on many factors.  It will be very different comparing, e.g. the Galleria in Sherman Oaks with the Walmart Supercenter on I-35 in San Marcos, TX.  
The only assessment of productivity I am aware of is from an FHWA construction traffic expert who spoke at a conference I went to.  He gave the valuation of traffic delays as approximately $10 per hour per vehicle.  So, if you have a daily flow of 2,500 vehicles and an average delay of 7 minutes, that would be a daily productivity (user) cost of ~$3,000.  Realistically that should be a part of Liquidated Damages.

However, I'm not sure how traffic to a shopping center equates to productivity.  I think of productivity more in terms of adding value.

Should definitely be a consideration when thinking about including work days in bids, liquidated damages, Design Build, etc. 

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Stephen Hemphill P.E., M.ASCE
Semi-Retired
Rio Rancho NM
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-19-2017 20:19
From: Ranjit Sahai
Subject: Impact of traffic congestion on productivity

The decline of sales at nation-wide large brick-and-mortar retailers has been primarily from internationally-focused online shopping retailers such as amazon.com. I believe a different business model for retailers (both online and brick-and-mortar) will emerge that would likely involve collaboration with an unexpected though entrenched player in another transportation space, such as vehicle manufacturer or ride-share platform. That would be an exciting wave to ride for whoever figures out and succeeds in implementing that model.

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Ranjit Sahai P.E., F.ASCE
Principal
RAM Consulting Corporation
Dulles, VA 20166
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