TREDIS Introduces Free, Multimodal Benefit-Cost Analysis Tool for Transportation
BOSTON -- Boston-based TREDIS® Software Group, creator of transportation decision support software, is pleased to announce the offering of a free, multimodal benefit-cost analysis tool for transportation planning. This web tool will be provided as a public service to fill a gap as there currently is no benefit-cost analysis tool that can work across all modes of transportation.
The idea of the Multimodal Benefit-Cost Analysis (MBCA) tool came from a Transportation Research Board (TRB) study that showed the inconsistencies in benefit-cost methods across transportation modes. The TREDIS team saw this need and decided to address it with a web tool that can be used anywhere. According to Glen Weisbrod, Director of TREDIS®, "The inspiration for providing the tool as a free service came to me at the 2013 International Transport Forum in Leipzig, Germany. I was inspired after hearing Robin Chase, founder of ZipCar, talk about using excess server capacity as an input for innovation and social good." The capacity of TREDIS to provide this service, and the public need for such a benefit-cost tool, enabled the concept to be quickly brought to reality.
TREDIS-MBCA allows the user to specify transportation modes and purposes, enter project costs, financing and timing information, and describe impacts on people, vehicles and freight movements.   The system then provides a series of reports. The free reports show impacts on benefits, costs, revenues and expenditures for households, businesses and public agencies. MBCA is transparent, allowing users to trace the calculation of results. It also addresses requirements of many federal and state grant programs.
TREDIS is hosting a free webinar on September 17(th), which will demonstrate the features of the new MBCA tool. For more information on attending the webinar, or obtaining a free subscription to this service, please visit http://www.tredis.com/mbca or contact via email at info@tredis.com.
About TREDIS®.  TREDIS® provides a broad set of economic impact and economic analysis tools for transportation plans, projects and programs. TREDIS covers all modes, including passenger and freight transport using road, rail, aviation and marine facilities.
CONTACT: Kirsten Hughes, Account Manager, TREDIS® Software Group, khughes@tredis.com, 617-303-0424
