Project

Economic Impacts Of Congestion

For the Portland Business Alliance and Port of Portland, Economic Development Research Group, Inc. (EDR Group) analyzed the economic impacts of congestion on Oregon’s economy. This is an update to the 2005 Cost of Congestion report by EDR Group, which revealed that Oregon’s future economic competitiveness and job growth are heavily reliant on an efficient and reliable transportation system.

congestionsBoth reports examined the potential effects of failure to make timely investments in correcting known bottlenecks, choke points and safety improvements for the entire transportation system. EDR Group examined these effects on both residential (commuter) and business (freight) users. The 2015 report study emphasizes economic impacts associated with the freight transportation system and its influence on business development, productivity and competitiveness. In addition, it addresses the resiliency of the transportation system to disruptions caused by congestion, lack of investment in key corridors serving freight-dependent industries, and natural disasters that could potentially result in long-term failure of key elements of the state’s transportation infrastructure.