Amtrak On-time Performance: CRA International Performs Key Economic Analyses Behind US Department Of Transportation Report to Congress

CRA International, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRAI), a worldwide leader in providing management, economic, and financial consulting services, today announced its role in providing key economic analyses in a report to Congress published March 28, 2008 by the US Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DoTOIG). The report found that Amtrak’s poor on-time performance significantly undermines the viability of intercity passenger rail as an option for travelers and also weakens Amtrak’s financial position by reducing its revenues and increasing its operating costs. Under its contract with DoTOIG, CRA developed econometric models and analytic methodologies to estimate the revenues lost to Amtrak as a result of trains not staying on schedule. This work was performed by a team of transportation business consultants and competition economists in CRA’s Boston office. CRA’s analysis focused on Amtrak’s long- and medium-distance routes outside the Northeast Corridor. Amtrak considers a train to be on-time if it arrives at its destination less than a prescribed number of minutes after its scheduled arrival (the specific thresholds vary depending on the end-to-end route length). In fiscal year 2006, average on-time performance across Amtrak’s long-distance and medium-distance routes (excluding the Northeast Corridor) was 30% and 67%, respectively. For these routes, CRA found that significant improvements in on-time performance could lead to substantial increases in ridership and revenue. For example, if Amtrak had attained on-time performance values of 75%, 85%, or 100% in fiscal 2006, it could have increased its actual annual revenues by $91 million (15.4%), $111 million (18.9%), or $143 million (24.3%), respectively. "This is a good example of how applied economics can make essential contributions to complex business and public policy questions,” said James C. Burrows, CRA’s President and Chief Executive Officer. "The transportation sector is rife with questions like the ones addressed in our work on Amtrak’s on-time performance. It perfectly illustrates the strengths of CRA’s capabilities in transportation consulting, operations analysis, and econometrics.” The CRA team that performed the work was led by Daniel Brand, Senior Consultant; Peter Boberg, Vice President; Masroor Hasan, Associate Principal; and Lucile Guillaud, Consulting Associate. The team also included: Jon Bottom, Mark Kiefer, and Andrew Desautels. About CRA International’s Transportation Practice CRA has long been a leader and innovator in the application of economic tools and concepts to the solution of complex transportation problems. In the area of transportation, CRA helps clients: forecast revenue and estimate market potential; understand the economic impacts of their business; develop strategies for pricing and service design; create value through strategic acquisitions; protect and maximize the value of their intellectual property; and develop intercompany pricing strategies to maximize profitability. CRA has helped shape national and international debates around transportation policy and competition and environmental policies affecting transportation-related industries. CRA is known as a leader in forecasting the market potential of proposed new transportation technologies and the revenue impacts of changes in existing transportation infrastructure. About CRA International Founded in 1965, CRA International is a leading provider of management consulting services and economic and financial expertise. Working with businesses, law firms, accounting firms, and governments, CRA is a preferred consulting firm for complex assignments with pivotal and high-stakes outcomes. The firm is distinguished by a unique combination of credentials: deep vertical experience in a variety of industries; broad horizontal expertise in a range of functional disciplines; and rigorous economic, financial, and market analysis. CRA offers a proven track record of thousands of successful engagements in regulatory and litigation support, business strategy and planning, market and demand forecasting, policy analysis, and engineering and technology management. Headquartered in Boston, the firm has sixteen offices within the United States, and seven offices in Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia Pacific region. Detailed information about CRA is available at www.crai.com. Statements in this press release concerning the expected use of CRA’s expertise, the future business, operating results, and financial condition of the Company and statements using the terms "anticipates,” "believes,” "expects,” "should,” or similar expressions, are "forward-looking” statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon management's current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties. Information contained in these forward-looking statements is inherently uncertain and actual performance and results may differ materially due to many important factors. Such factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements made by the Company include, among others, the Company’s restructuring costs and attributable annual cost savings, changes in the Company’s effective tax rate, share dilution from the Company’s convertible debt offering and stock options, dependence on key personnel, attracting and retaining qualified consultants, dependence on outside experts, utilization rates, factors related to its recent acquisitions, including integration of personnel, clients, offices, and unanticipated expenses and liabilities, risks associated with acquisitions it may make in the future, risks inherent in international operations, the performance of NeuCo, changes in accounting standards, rules and regulations, changes in the law that affect its practice areas, management of new offices, the potential loss of clients, dependence on growth of the Company’s business consulting practice, the unpredictable nature of litigation-related projects, the ability of the Company to integrate successfully new consultants into its practice, intense competition, risks inherent in litigation, and professional liability. Further information on these and other potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cannot guarantee any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievement. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of its forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.