Business case and evaluation framework
Project Stage
About the Project
For a transportation project, a business case is an evidence-based analysis of the project’s anticipated benefits to society and performance against a common set of objectives. It serves as a key piece of evidence to inform decisions on transportation investments. Business cases are used to appraise transportation projects, identify, optimize, and monitor project benefits over the project life cycle, communicate benefits to stakeholders, and deliver value for money for public investments. The process of developing a business case is intended to accompany a project from start to finish, to allow decision-makers to make go/no-go decisions on the project at key decision points and to ensure project benefits are maintained in delivery.
Benefits
- Streamline capital funding planning
- Provide clear analysis of potential projects
- Clearly communicate project benefits
- Support decision-making by providing evidence-based analysis
- Ensure consistent evaluation within and across projects
- Provide analysis to help secure federal funding
FROM THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN
Action 4.2.2: Establish a common business case and evaluation framework for major transportation projects to be used amongst the Core Partners.
Project business cases are a key part of sound transportation planning. A standard approach can help facilitate coordination and cooperation among partners, support good decision-making and streamline capital funding planning and funding applications with other orders of government.