The SMRrTOWN Calculator enables anyone to quickly "test" the economic model of a SMRrTOWN Overlay in a specific city, town, or urban village. With only four inputs (which can be derived in a matter of minutes) the Calculator automatically generates a proforma which tells you:

1. The projected capital costs of a proposed Overlay infrastructure (the SMRrTRAM "horizontal elevator", intercept SMRrTPARKs and PARK&RIDE farecard system.)
   
   
2. Existing "BASELINE" annual retail/service revenues in the Overlay area you've defined.
   
   
3. Projected annual retail/service revenues AFTER the Overlay is implemented.
   
   
4. Design-Build-Operate-Maintain Developer's Return-on-Equity, and 10 year Interntal Rate of Return.
   
   
5. The net NEW revenues retained by the Overlay businesses after all SMRrTOWN capital and operating costs are paid.

The Calculator uses actual survey data from ten U.S. cities which has been translated into a generic data base. Using this data base, the Calculator “populates” the DATA ZONES of a proposed Overlay with sq.ft. of office and retail space, no. parking spaces, no. of residents, etc. The Calculator then uses this data to project the number of Customers/Day produced in each Zone which, in turn, generates the proforma.

Because it is based on a generic data base, the proforma produced is an approximation of the realities of any given context. Where context specific data are known, or can be accurately guestimated, this information can be easily substituted into the DATA ZONES to increase the accuracy of the results.

Even at its purely generic level, however, the Calculator's proforma will provide a "quick-sketch" look at the economic model of any particular SMRrTOWN Overlay. If this "quick-sketch" is compelling, a more accurate analysis can be created based on actual survey or GIS data. (This is a service The SMRrTOWN Partnership can provide at a reasonable cost.)

You can download the SMRrTOWN Calculator free from our Bookstore. First, we suggest reviewing the following description of the Calculator and how to use it.

Using the Calculator--7 Easy Steps to creating a SMRrTOWN Proforma

NOTE: Before using the Calculator, please do a "SAVE AS" on your computer. This will preserve the formulas the Calculator uses in an original version which you can then use, again, if you need to.

Step 1. Over a map or aerial photo, draw a proposed SMRrTRAM Alignment. Place STOPS along the alignment about every 1000 ft. (300m). The actual distance between stops can vary from about 600 feet up to 2000 ft.

• Draw a 1000 ft. (300m) radius circle around each STOP. Use these circles to create DATA ZONES as illustrated above. Number these DATA ZONES from left to right.
  
  
• Using the map or photo's scale, measure the length of the SMRrTRAM alignment, and count the number of STOPS. These values will be two of the inputs the Calculator requires.

Step 2. Indicate where you think, generally, Intercept SMRrTPARK facilities could be located.

• They don't have to be at end-STOPS. They should be easily accessed from arterial roads.
  
  
• Note whether the proposed SMRrTPARKs will be structured or surface parking, and the number of spaces each might accomodate. This value will be the third input the Calculator requires.

Step 3. Choose one of the four "urban typologies" which best describes the context of the Overlay you've just drawn. The four typologies you can choose from are:

1. Large City CBD--most buildings over 10 stories--mostly structured parking.
   
   
2. Medium City CBD--large percentage buildings over 10 stories--some surface parking.
   
   
3. Small City CBD--most buildings 3-10 stories--structured and surface parking about equal.
   
   
4. Village CBD--most buildings 1-3 stories--some structured, but mostly surface parking.

Under your chosen typology, fill in the appropriate cells with: (a) Overall length, in linear feet, of the SMRrTRAM alignment you've drawn, and (b) the total number of STOPS you've proposed along the alignment.

Step 4. Input the the number of signalized intersections the SMRrTRAM alignment goes through. If you don't know this exactly, you can guess for now, then go back and verify later. (This impacts the capital cost of the SMRrTRAM system.)

Then, input the number of new SMRrTPARK spaces you have proposed in each DATA ZONE.

Step 5. The Calculator will automatically fill in the DATA ZONE information for your Overlay--i.e. the number of parking spaces, square feet of retail space, etc.

• If you have actual survey information, or can guestimate more accurate data for any ZONE, just change the number in that cell. (When you do this, the original formula will be lost--which is why it is important to do a "SAVE AS" before you begin.)

Step 6. Review the "Operational Parameters" which the Calculator uses to generate the proforma--i.e. hourly parking rate, interest rate for capital projects, etc.

• The values given in the Calculator are suggestions. Feel free to modify them to reflect your understanding of the context and economics you are modeling.
  
  
• After the proforma is generated, you can "play" with these Operational Parameters to see how they affect the economic model of the Overlay.

Step 7. Review the "Quick-Sketch" proforma the Calculator has produced.

• The heart of the proforma is the BEFORE and AFTER "Customers/Day" matrices. These compare the BASELINE market dynamics (with pedestrians "stuck" in thier 1000 foot pedestrian access bubble) with the projected market dynamics created by the Overlay's new pedestrian mobility. This comparison is measured in Total Annual Revenues per ZONE.

• After the "Customers/Day" matrices the proforma provides a QUICK SUMMARY that shows: (1) Projected capital costs for the Overlay Infrastructure (2) BIA-City Cash Flow Summary, and (3) DBOM Developer Cash Flow Summary. This proforma is based on the Business Model described in the SMRrTOWN Overlay.

After the Quick-Sketch Summary, the proforma includes some details. These are not intended as an exhaustive analysis, but provide an overview of how some of the costs were calculated.

If you'd like to use the Calculator to "test" a SMRrTOWN Overlay proforma for a specific context, you can download it free from our Bookstore!

Please share your results with us! E.mail your proformas, comments and questions to: proforma@villagetechnology.com. We can provide specific proposals to assist you in taking the next steps to creating a SMRrTOWN Overlay project.