Monitoring the Cost Effectiveness of the Caltrans Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) SB1 Funded Expansion

Status

Complete

Project Timeline

July 1, 2018 - June 15, 2019

Principal Investigator

Project Team

Benjamin McKeever

Campus(es)

UC Berkeley

Project Summary

The Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) program is jointly managed by Caltrans, California Highway Patrol (CHP), and local agencies and has a goal of reducing congestion by using fleets of roving tow and service trucks to quickly clear disabled vehicles and address other minor accidents on California’s freeway. Approximately $25.48 million in State transportation funds are provided each year to eligible regional transportation agencies for the FSP program using a formula-based allocation. The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (SB 1) directs an additional $25 million per year to the FSP Program in 2017-18 and thereafter. This research project performed a near-term cost effectiveness evaluation of the SB1 funded FSP program expansion and found that in its first year of implementation (Fiscal Year 2018-19), the SB 1 funded FSP program expansion provided over 118,000 assists to California’s motorists. The SB 1 funded FSP expansions provided almost $47M dollars in benefits to motorists, while costing the State under $9M. On average, the SB 1 funded FSP expansions provided 5 times as much benefit to California’s motorists as these expansions cost the State.