Estimating wider regional benefits from investing in MTA transportation infrastructure

Tasked by the MTA, Steer worked as part of a team led by KPMG to estimate the social, economic and environmental benefits to the region from investing in MTA transportation infrastructure. 

How we helped

Steer developed all the estimates of user benefits attributable to a sample of projects undertaken by the agency.

Besides estimating impacts of major mega-projects, such as the Second Avenue Subway, Steer also analyzed the social benefits of smaller projects and state of good repair initiatives. The impacts estimated by Steer included:

• Transit User Benefits: including travel time savings, reduced congestion, and reduced accidents as a result of mode switching.
• Productivity Impacts: Agglomeration economies are positive externalities sourced from increasing returns to the scaled of economic activity.
• Real Estate Impacts: Increases in real estate value reflecting the value of proximity to transit.
• Environmental Impacts: Reductions in GHG emissions and local air pollution.
• Social & Health Impacts: Health and social impacts associated with increased use of public transit by a city’s residents.