Volume 3 Issue 1.indd - Parsons Brinckerhoff

Specifically, the PRISM software is capable of evaluating the
following types of transportation infrastructure projects:
• Maintenance, resurfacing, reconstruction,
expansion, or construction of new:
• Arterial or non-arterial roads
• Highways
• Bridges
• Tunnels
• Maintenance and expansion of freight operations,
such as:
• New or improved intermodal facilities (shortand
long-haul freight trips on truckload or
light-truck-load vehicles)
• Expansion of freight rail capacity (short-line
and Class I railroads)
PRISM Model Architecture & Methodology
The PRISM application has two modules – the benefit-cost
module and the regional economic impact module. The
benefit-cost module utilizes a consumer surplus approach
that is the almost universally accepted paradigm for
transportation benefit-cost studies. The regional impact
module is based on input-output multipliers from IMPLAN 1 ,
and as three sub-modules:
• The Freight Sub-module, which captures the
short-term and long-term benefits of goods
movement projects;
• The Passenger Sub-module, which captures
the short-term and long-term effects of projects
benefiting passenger work-related travel; and
• The Construction Sub-module, which captures
the short-term effects of the demand for
construction services to implement the project(s).
• Maintenance, expansion, or new construction of
public transit, such as:
• Bus transit corridor improvements /
implementation of Bus Rapid Transit corridors
• New light or heavy rail transit corridors,
including city transit, regional commuter rail,
or high-speed rail
• Improved frequency or capacity on existing
passenger rail corridors
• Congestion pricing alternatives
Both sub-modules are accessed through an easy-touse
Graphical User Interface (GUI), which is shown in
Exhibit 2. The GUI allows the user to select the appropriate
modules to run, input the necessary data, and view model
outputs.
Both PRISM modules have been designed to seamlessly
integrate as a “post processor” to external regional travel
demand models. PRISM is able to plug into and interface
with the outputs of any county, state, or regional travel
demand model, with little ramp-up time needed for
customization.
1. IMPLAN is an input-output model, which captures the inter-industry linkages of a regional economy and estimate economic multipliers. In
essence, a large matrix is created that relates outputs of one industry to inputs of all other industries. The use of intermediate goods and services
as demanded by one industry is broken down and stated as dependent relationships on other suppliers.
43 Vol. 3 • Issue 1 |