Estimating the Life-Cycle Cost of Intersection Designs

Abstract

Agencies and practitioners have long struggled with the task of comparing intersection and facility designs in terms of the immediate and long-term costs. This project addresses this issue by developing a tool that provides a consistent and defensible approach to such comparisons. The Life-Cycle Cost Estimation Tool (LCCET) is a spreadsheet program written in a Microsoft Excel for Windows that allows users to compare alternatives based on initial construction costs, ongoing maintenance and operations costs, operational efficiencies for a variety of modes, safety effects, and emissions. The results show relative comparison of alternatives, including benefit-cost ratios compared to a base case. The tool also displays results visually to facilitate a better understanding of where costs would be incurred.