As construction costs rise, bicycling projects become even more cost-effective

Construction costs are increasing, according to the Washington State DOT, which tracks costs in several western states. For example, after a steep decline from its peak in 2009, the cost of hot mix asphalt is beginning to tick back up. As state budgets are tightening, it is a good time to invest in transportation projects — like bicycling projects — that rely less on materials and commit a greater share of their totals costs to labor, putting people to work.

In June, the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, released their report,  Pedestrian and Bicycle Infrastructure: A National Study of Employment Impacts, which showed that for each million dollars spent, bicycling projects create 46 percent more jobs than road-only projects. In addition to the employment benefits, as DOTs face shrinking budgets and rising costs of materials, bicycling projects can provide the biggest bang for the buck.

Hat tip: Transportation Issues Daily