Access Management: It Really

Doesn’t Kill the Economy

TxDOT Short Course

October 13, 2016

William E. Frawley, AICP

Texas A&M Transportation Institute

Economic Impacts - National

States with studies

• Florida

• Iowa

• Kansas

• Texas

Found no significant economic impacts

Economic Impacts of Raised Medians Study in Texas

Interviewed Business Owners & Managers• Odessa, Wichita Falls, McKinney,

Longview, Houston, College Station

Also Studied Median Removals• Amarillo, Port Arthur

~60% Participation Rate

Economic Impacts of Raised

Medians Study in Texas

Surveyed Customers

Interviewed Business Owners/Managers

Actual Revenues/Percent Changes per Year

Customer Decisions

Findings on Business Impacts -

Texas

Construction phase is

often most critical• Relative to construction

intensity

Specialty retail, fast food, and sit-down restaurants; sales up after construction

Auto repair sales down after construction (very small sample size)

Findings on Business Impacts -

Texas

Regular customers not impacted

No significant economic impacts

Many other economic factors

National/Local Economy

Business Management

National/Regional Marketing

Perceptions of Customer

Preferences

1. Customer Service

2. Product Quality

3. Product Price

4. Accessibility to Store

5. Distance to Travel

6. Hours of Operation

• Desire more input regarding access options

• Desire smaller/faster construction phases

• Increase communication/Alleviatemisconceptions

• Usefulness of access restrictions

• Concerned about future access and diversions toside streets

Business Owner Comments

Customer Comments

Majority “about the same likeliness to return”

Gas Stations and Fast Food - less

Same as business perceptions

Accessibility is less important than other issues that businesses can control (prod qual, cust serv, price)

Economic Effects

Market area is important to business success

• Reduction of travel speeds means smaller market areas

30 mph

45 mph

Source: ITE Transportation and Land Development

Economic Effects

Access management techniques, in general, are not directly related to retail sales• Texas, Florida, Kansas, Iowa

“Poorly designed access treatments can present traffic hazards and congestion that create a negative image of a center”• Shopping Center Development Handbook,

Urban Land Institute

FHWA Safe Access is Good for Business• Primer and Video

What’s Behind the

Closed Doors?

National Chains• National/regional closures• Marketing/advertising• Franchises

Mom & Pop• Experience running a business• Capital to make it through start-up and rough

times

What’s Behind the

Closed Doors?

Economy• National• Regional• Local

Aging . . . • Infratsructure• Retail facilities• Neighborhoods

Challenges in Studying Economic

Impacts

Wrong side of the street?• “Donuts and Cleaners”• Mid-block gas stations

Competition• Other chains/stores locating nearby

Cannabalism• Same chain in region• Drawing away customers

Remember Why You are

Implementing Access Management

Safety• Crashes• Fatalities• Serious injuries

Mobility• Improve driver expectations• Less stop-and-go traffic

Conclusions

No general direct ties between access management and business success/failure

Some businesses more vulnerable than others

Variety of reasons why businesses succeed or fail

Issues that businesses can control tend to be most important to customers

Conclusions

Customers are typically loyal

Construction period can be hardest

Clear communications are vital

Performing studies can be challenging