Austroads has developed a number of distinctive Guides, one of which deals with Project Evaluation. Each Austroads Guide has an associated review panel comprised of senior representatives from Austroads jurisdictions and key stakeholders. The purpose of the review panel is to oversee the development and review of the Guides. Review panel members advise on the scope, structure and broad content of the Guides and facilitate development and ongoing maintenance of the Guides.

The Guide to Project Evaluation provides a dynamic system of evaluation methods. It contains guidance on good practice, a consistent approach to key data used in analysis, and state-of-the-art tools to assist transport agencies and practitioners charged with the task of evaluating projects in the roads sector.

The eight parts of the Guide assemble knowledge on project evaluation methods, parameters and tools into a readily available and accessible resource for planners and decision-makers. The parts offer guidance to practitioners seeking advice for 'beyond the standard benefit-cost analysis (BCA) or multi-criteria analysis (MCA)' evaluations, that is, project risk assessment, the national and regional impacts of projects, distributional (equity) effects of projects, and project post-evaluation analysis.

Parts 1 to 8 of the Guide to Project Evaluation are available from the Austroads publications website.

The Guide to Project Evaluation can be bought as a set in hard copy with a 50% discount here.

The Guide to Project Evaluation covers the following areas:

Part 1: Introduction to Project Evaluation

Provides an introduction to project evaluation and anticipates a link-point with the wider area of road transport planning. Context and criteria in economic evaluation are needed to help the practitioner succeed in evaluating projects. Transport practitioners charged with the task of evaluating a transport project need to have an understanding of the physical system and political context in which the project was conceived. Understanding of the strategic planning context from which the project has been derived is particularly important as it defines broad outcomes of the transport system such as efficiency, safety and sustainability.

Part 2: Project Evaluation Methodology

Guidelines for conducting benefit-cost analysis (BCA) and multi-criteria analysis (MCA) on public transport infrastructure projects, policies and programs. Promotes consistency and transparency in the evaluation of transport projects.

Part 3: Models and Procedures

• tools used in project evaluation
• recent research and development work.

Part 4: Project Evaluation Data

Inputs to project evaluation including:

• unit costs and other inputs/parameters.

Part 5: Impact on National and Regional Economies

Macro-economic models in project evaluation:

• application
• economy wide impact assessment including 'computable general equilibrium' models.

Part 6: Distributional (Equity) Effects

Evaluation of the distributional (equity) impacts of transport projects including:

• procedures/processes to comparing sets of efficiency outcomes with desired social (equity) outcomes.

Part 7: Post-completion Evaluation

Evaluation of completed transport projects to assess actual performance against stated objectives including:

• feedback on evaluation methodologies
• efficiency of implementation.

Part 8: Examples

Worked examples of techniques described in Parts 1 to 7.