A proposal has been made for improving the downtown area of a small town. The plan calls for banning vehicular traffic on the main street and turning this street into a pedestrian mall with tree plantings and other beautification features. This plan will involve actual costs of $6,000,000 and, according to its proponents, the plan will produce benefits and disbenefits to the town as follows:
a. Compute the B–C ratio of this plan based on a MARR of 10% per year and an infinite life for the project.
b. How does the B–C ratio change for a 20-year project life?