Economic and Market Analysis

Forecasting Investment Outcomes

For sectors characterized by a mix of funding such as user fees, debt, and grants, WSP has developed numerous models projecting the financial and economic rates of return on a wide range of projects. These issues are particularly important in determining how the project could be funded, and we apply these principles in a variety of settings.

Our strategy is to be responsive to our clients’ needs, constraints and the implications of investments for policy decisions. We evaluate the benefits, costs and tradeoffs of investment, quantify their impacts economically, environmentally and socially, and identify the economic impacts of different pricing and funding strategies.

Among the range of tools we have developed and use to support economic impact analysis is the firm’s PRIoritization Scenario Model (PRISM™), which is used for comprehensive benefit cost and return on investment analyses. PRISM™ also evaluates the wider economic impacts of projects, drawing on advanced regional economic modeling techniques. PRISM™ is a proven and reliable tool to help craft long-term strategic plans, prioritize projects, determine the feasibility and impacts of potential public investments, and market large projects to governments and the public.

Our team’s capabilities include:

Benefit-cost analysis

Cost risk analysis/Monte Carlo simulations

Econometric modeling/demand forecasting

Economic impact analysis

Grant application support

Market demand analysis

Real estate and fiscal impact analysis

Regional and economic model development

Socioeconomic/land use forecasting

Toll, fare, tariff and price elasticity studies

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Kruunuvuorensilta

Kruunuvuorensilta will be one of the longest bridges in the world dedicated to public transportation, pedestrians and cyclists.

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Washington State Department of Transportation

Washington State Department of Transportation operates and maintains 18,000 lane miles and 3,600 bridge structures, runs the largest ferry system in the nation and has 32 public partners that collectively provide more than 220 million transit trips per year. WSP USA provided traffic and revenue, economic, financial, operational and/or forecasting advisory services to all of the agency’s major development projects that keep people and the economy moving.

Minnesota, USA

Minnesota Department of Transportation

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) develops and implements policies, plans and programs for roads, bridges, aeronautics, freight and passenger carriers, ports, waterways, and railroads for over five million urban and rural residents. WSP USA has worked with MnDOT on a variety of initiatives to maximize operational performance and support the delivery of billions in transportation improvements.

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U.S. Department of Transportation

An optimized combination of policy initiatives across strategic planning, project development, finance, design and delivery, technology, operations and maintenance will drive development. WSP USA works with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s operating administrations, national-governmental organizations and other stakeholders to advance the state-of-the practice within local, state and regional governments and agencies to deliver service better, faster, safer and more reliably.