Author(s):
J.L. Buffington, M.T. Wildenthal
Publication Date
August 1997
Abstract
The upgrading and widening of highways across the state is causing the directly affected businesses and property owners to inquire about the possible economic impacts of such construction. This report documents the during- and after-construction effects of the widening of a 15.13 kilometer undivided section of State Highway (S.H.) 199, in Parker County, Texas. Between 1990 and 1994, it was widened to include two roadways separated by a ditch or a two-way left-turn lane.Collected data includes abutting managers' estimates of the construction impact on their businesses, on property values, and on highway traffic volumes, travel times, and accident rates. Responding Azle businesses lost 33% of their parking spaces and Springtown businesses lost 16%, but both reported fewer customers per day and 33% fewer occupied parking spaces during construction. The number of employees for most businesses was unaffected. The sales reported by abutting businesses increased slightly more than Azle gross sales, but increased less than Springtown or Parker County sales. Appraised abutting, Springtown, and Parker County property and land values fell during and after construction. The benefit-cost ratio was 2.95 for Azle and 1.48 for Springtown.The Texas input-output model estimates the construction expenditures' impacts to be $29.8 million in output and 453 jobs for the Texas economy from the Springtown project. For the Azle project, the estimated impacts are $13.4 million in output and 202 jobs for the Texas economy.
Report Number:
1260-2
Keywords:
Abutting Businesses, economic impact, Highway Widening, Property, Residents, Two-Way Left-Turn Lane
Link(s):
Document/Product
http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/1260-2.pdf
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