Multimodal Investment Choice Analysis for Washington State Transportation Projects: Phase I Results

Launched in 1999, the Multimodal Investment Choice Analysis (MICA) project is a computer-based tool being developed to assist the Washington State Department of Transportation, the Washington State Transportation Commission, and the Washington State legislature in making state transportation funding decisions. The function of MICA is to summarize the multimodal budgetary trade-offs that will result from varying funding allocation and priority scenarios. MICA’s methodology is based on benefit-cost and goal achievement analyses. The project recently completed the first phase of research. The analysis methodology for the MICA project is outlined, and key findings from the first phase of this effort are highlighted. Tasks for the second phase of the research project are also discussed. Although challenges remain, the results of the Phase I research effort indicate that development of a multimodal analysis tool appears feasible.