Office of the Chief Economist

About Us

Initiates and develops Secretarial policies relating to the financing of transportation infrastructure; the use of economic analysis in evaluating infrastructure investments, rulemakings, Departmental programs, and other initiatives; the use of economic analysis in reducing congestion and enhancing the efficient operation of transportation networks; and other applications of economic analysis in transportation policymaking.  Provides economic analysis of recommendations and proposed rules.

Mission

The Office of the Chief Economist examines transportation policy issues from an economic perspective, conducts analyses of the economic effects of transportation policies, and designs more economically efficient policies. These analyses focus on the economic impact of transportation investments, strategies for using transportation infrastructure more efficiently, ways of increasing the economic efficiency of federal transportation programs, new ways of financing transportation infrastructure, and analyzing the costs and benefits of transportation rulemakings, in collaboration with the Office of Regulation (C-50) in the Office of the General Counsel.

What We Do

• Develop and Review Economic Analysis Relating to Regulations
• Conduct Economic Analyses
• Develop Guidance for Transportation Benefit-Cost Analysis
• Develop Policy Initiatives for Freight Transportation

Functions

• Reviews the economic efficiency of Departmental programs designed to assist transportation capital markets.
• Conducts research on rural passenger transportation accessibility.
• Takes the lead on Departmental policy involving transportation competition and antitrust issues.
• Conducts analyses of economic impacts of transportation security measures.
• Develops designs for more economically efficient transportation programs and policies.
• Represents the Department in meetings with economists from the White House, in collaboration with C-50, with respect to rulemakings, other Cabinet Departments, and the national and international transportation economics community.
• Provides leadership to economists throughout the Department.
• Works to improve the quality of economic data and analytical methodologies available for transportation policymaking.
• Serves as the Department's principal resource and advisor on policy issues involving freight transportation.
• Develops and coordinates national freight transportation policy within the Department and among Federal agencies to support commercial goods movement.

Key Reports

• The Transportation of Hazardous Materials: Insurance, Security, and Safety Costs
• Study of Intercity Bus Service
• Expert Forum on Road Pricing and Travel Demand Modeling Proceedings
• Uncertainty Analysis of Quality Adjusted Life Years Lost

Guidance

• Benefit-Cost Analysis Guidance
• Revised Departmental Guidance on Valuation of Travel Time in Economic Analysis
• Revised Departmental Guidance on Valuation of a Statistical Life in Economic Analysis
• 2015 Threshold of Significant Regulatory Actions Under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995