Are longer and heavier vehicles (LHVs) beneficial for society? A cost benefit analysis to evaluate their potential implementation in Spain
Are longer and heavier vehicles (LHVs) beneficial for society? A cost benefit analysis to evaluate their potential implementation in Spain
In this paper we carry out a thorough review of the current research related to the benefits and costs arising from the implementation of longer and heavier vehicles (LHVs). From this review we concluded that despite the many studies available, little has been said about the sensitivity of the benefits and costs to the ultimate performance of the key variables related to the evolution of the economy, road transport performance, safety, and so on. In order to fill this gap, we have designed a sensitivity approach based on a cost benefit analysis tool to determine which variables demonstrate the greatest influence on the benefits and costs stemming from the implementation of LHVs. In order to test the methodology, we have used it in an analysis of the Spanish trunk network. The results show that the benefits of LHVs for society are significant. Even in the least favorable scenario, the economic benefits are greater than €3500 million over 15 years, and the environment enhanced as well, for CO2 emissions are reduced by 2 Million tonnes. Overall we noted how the results are not very sensitive to the evolution of key variables in determining the final outcome. However, we found that the variables that have the greatest affect on the final benefit, such as traffic growth and social discount rate, depend basically on the performance of the overall economy. Moreover, the private cost for haulers seems to be more important in determining the final benefit than externality costs
Ortega, Alejandro
a950aa2d-c35a-47d3-8219-12446fc7eaf3
Vassallo, Jose Manuel
7454c521-3295-4af1-84de-8779bdf0ebc8
Guzman, Andres Felipe
ee643e9f-a2ae-4f71-86d0-b1b2d7921319
Perez, Pedro
06ca63b7-13bc-4a21-bcd3-145d95dd4669
25 February 2014
Ortega, Alejandro
a950aa2d-c35a-47d3-8219-12446fc7eaf3
Vassallo, Jose Manuel
7454c521-3295-4af1-84de-8779bdf0ebc8
Guzman, Andres Felipe
ee643e9f-a2ae-4f71-86d0-b1b2d7921319
Perez, Pedro
06ca63b7-13bc-4a21-bcd3-145d95dd4669
Ortega, Alejandro, Vassallo, Jose Manuel, Guzman, Andres Felipe and Perez, Pedro
(2014)
Are longer and heavier vehicles (LHVs) beneficial for society? A cost benefit analysis to evaluate their potential implementation in Spain.
Transport Reviews, 34 (2).
(doi:10.1080/01441647.2014.891161).
Abstract
In this paper we carry out a thorough review of the current research related to the benefits and costs arising from the implementation of longer and heavier vehicles (LHVs). From this review we concluded that despite the many studies available, little has been said about the sensitivity of the benefits and costs to the ultimate performance of the key variables related to the evolution of the economy, road transport performance, safety, and so on. In order to fill this gap, we have designed a sensitivity approach based on a cost benefit analysis tool to determine which variables demonstrate the greatest influence on the benefits and costs stemming from the implementation of LHVs. In order to test the methodology, we have used it in an analysis of the Spanish trunk network. The results show that the benefits of LHVs for society are significant. Even in the least favorable scenario, the economic benefits are greater than €3500 million over 15 years, and the environment enhanced as well, for CO2 emissions are reduced by 2 Million tonnes. Overall we noted how the results are not very sensitive to the evolution of key variables in determining the final outcome. However, we found that the variables that have the greatest affect on the final benefit, such as traffic growth and social discount rate, depend basically on the performance of the overall economy. Moreover, the private cost for haulers seems to be more important in determining the final benefit than externality costs
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Accepted/In Press date: 1 February 2014
Published date: 25 February 2014
Organisations:
Transportation Group
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Local EPrints ID: 380518
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/380518
ISSN: 0144-1647
PURE UUID: 14304a95-1dcd-4dbf-979d-b75078a058f5
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Date deposited: 14 Sep 2015 07:48
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 21:01
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Author:
Jose Manuel Vassallo
Author:
Andres Felipe Guzman
Author:
Pedro Perez
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