An introduction to our economics and appraisal work

An introduction to our economics and appraisal work

The Department for Transport (DfT) undertakes the following work to ensure that decisions on transport policy are made taking into account the best possible advice by:

• forecasting growth in transport use;
• assessing the impact of transport using in-house strategic models;
• developing and supporting appropriate methods for impacts of transport improvements; and
• setting the framework, producing and supporting software for assessing whether transport schemes are value for money.

Resources

A number of tools are available to assist those undertaking appraisal and modelling, including:

• a number of data sources such as the Trip-end Modelling Programme (TEMPRO) which forecasts travel demand at detailed geographical level;
• a collection of advice and guidance on modelling and appraisal (known as WebTAG) for those developing transport projects;
• a National Transport Model which has been developed as an analytical and policy testing tool, to provide a systematic means of comparing the national consequences of applied transport polices; and
• a programme of research work on modelling, appraisal and evaluation which aims to improve our advice on transport modelling and economic appraisal.