Advanced Transport Economics Training Course: Cost-benefit Analysis And Economic Modeling For Smarter Infrastructure Decisions

Introduction

In today’s rapidly evolving infrastructure landscape, transport professionals must master the science of evaluating project feasibility, sustainability, and long-term economic impact. This Advanced Transport Economics Training Course offers a specialized focus on Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) and Economic Modeling, equipping professionals with advanced tools to drive data-backed investment decisions. Whether you're analyzing urban transport networks or highway infrastructure, this course offers the latest global methodologies to optimize transport planning and funding. This high-impact training is designed to develop expert-level skills in economic appraisal, transport demand forecasting, risk valuation, and financing frameworks. With a blend of theory, global case studies, and practical applications, participants will gain critical insights to support evidence-based transport investment and policy decisions. Delivered by leading economists and infrastructure experts, this program ensures a robust understanding of the economic principles underpinning complex transport systems. This Advanced Transport Economics Training Course is built for policy analysts, economists, engineers, and planners, this course combines international best practices, data-driven decision-making, and global evaluation standards to strengthen transport policy formulation and infrastructure investment strategies. It is tailored for professionals looking to lead smarter, more sustainable economic decisions in transport systems.

Target Audience

• Transport economists and infrastructure planners
• Policy analysts and legislative advisors
• Government officials in transport and public works
• Investment and project finance officers
• Urban and regional development professionals
• Development agency and donor institution staff
• Academic and research professionals in transport economics

Course Objectives

• Understand key principles of advanced transport economics
• Apply Cost-Benefit Analysis in transport investment decisions
• Conduct data-based transport demand forecasting
• Build and interpret dynamic economic models
• Evaluate environmental and social externalities in projects
• Perform lifecycle cost analysis and project sustainability reviews
• Use sensitivity and risk tools for robust evaluation
• Design appraisal frameworks for PPP transport projects
• Align economic evaluation with policy and planning goals
• Address accessibility and equity in transport economics
• Utilize real-time data in economic simulations and modeling
• Prepare professional-grade economic appraisal reports

Duration

10 Days

Course Outline

Module 1: Foundations of Transport Economics

• Principles of transport supply and demand
• Market failures and externalities
• Economic role of transport in development
• Cost structures in transport systems
• Government interventions and efficiency

Module 2: Introduction to Cost-Benefit Analysis

• Key CBA concepts and decision rules
• Calculating NPV, IRR, and BCR
• Discounting and time value of money
• Opportunity cost and shadow pricing
• Limitations and common CBA errors

Module 3: Forecasting Transport Demand

• Data sources for demand modeling
• Trip generation and distribution techniques
• Mode choice modeling
• Elasticities and induced demand
• Travel time and cost sensitivity

Module 4: Applied Transport Economic Modeling

• Structure of economic transport models
• Input-output modeling basics
• Spreadsheet modeling and simulation
• Calibrating models with real-world data
• Interpreting and validating results

Module 5: Lifecycle Costing and Long-Term Viability

• Total cost of ownership approach
• Capital, operating, and maintenance costs
• Depreciation and replacement cycles
• Break-even and payback analysis
• Integration into project feasibility

Module 6: Environmental and Social Impact Valuation

• Valuing emissions and noise pollution
• Estimating travel time savings
• Costing accident reduction and safety
• Social inclusion and displacement impacts
• Non-market valuation techniques

Module 7: Economic Appraisal for Public-Private Partnerships

• Economic vs. financial analysis in PPPs
• Risk sharing and VfM assessments
• Role of subsidies and guarantees
• Project bankability considerations
• Evaluating long-term fiscal impact

Module 8: Sensitivity and Risk Analysis in Economic Evaluation

• Identifying key risk variables
• Sensitivity testing of economic outputs
• Scenario development and comparisons
• Monte Carlo simulations overview
• Building decision-making confidence

Module 9: Equity and Accessibility in Transport Appraisal

• Distributional analysis frameworks
• Evaluating impacts on vulnerable groups
• Gender-sensitive transport analysis
• Rural and urban accessibility metrics
• Inclusive transport policy design

Module 10: Multi-Criteria and Hybrid Evaluation Techniques

• CBA vs. Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA)
• Scoring and weighting policy objectives
• Combining economic and qualitative data
• Stakeholder-informed evaluation
• Reporting multi-dimensional outcomes

Module 11: Data Sources and Tools for Economic Modeling

• Open data and government databases
• Use of GIS in transport economics
• Data cleaning and validation techniques
• Visualization and dashboard tools
• Digital transformation in modeling

Module 12: International Best Practices and Case Studies

• Lessons from World Bank and ADB projects
• Successful project appraisal formats
• Avoiding common evaluation pitfalls
• Comparative economic performance reviews
• Adapting global lessons to local contexts

Module 13: Reporting and Communicating Economic Findings

• Report structures and presentation formats
• Executive summaries and technical annexes
• Visualizing data and economic outcomes
• Engaging stakeholders with evidence
• Presenting to funders and policymakers

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.