addressing climate change adaptation in regional transportation plans

Addressing Climate Change Adaptation in Regional Transportation PlansA Guide for California MPOs and RTPAsPacific Institute GIS Data(http://www.pacinst.org/reports/sea_level_rise/)The Pacific Institute has published a dataset representing coastal floodinundation and erosion hazards resulting from a 100-year event under presentconditions and 2100 conditions under sea level rise driven by the A2 emissionsscenario. This dataset was presented by the Pacific Institute for the projectImpacts of Sea Level Rise on the California Coast (Pacific Institute, 2009). At thispoint in time, this resource from the Pacific Institute is the latest data availablefor the State.It is important to note that the data presented by these sources is continuallyevolving and being updated as our understanding of climate mechanics andfuture climate conditions is revised and improved. Any application of climateinformation should cite the source of the data and the date on which it wasaccessed.10.3 APPLYING CLIMATE INFORMATIONInterpreting Existing State GuidanceSeveral climate change studies have been conducted in California to improve ourunderstanding of the expected degree and consequences of climate change andto provide resource management agencies with guidance on planning for futureclimate conditions. Through the Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) programadministered by the California Energy Commission (CEC), California hasestablished the California Climate Change Center (CCCC). The CCCC conductsresearch on climate change in California and has contributed several studies onevaluating and planning for trends in increased temperature, sea level, andimpacts to hydrologic resources.California Climate Change Statewide AssessmentsSince 2006, the scientific and resource management communities in Californiahave conducted three statewide assessments of climate change and resourceconsequences in California. For the third assessment, climate change projectionsfor California were synthesized in the 2012 Climate Change and Sea-Level RiseScenarios for California Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment (Cayan et al., 2012),which examined changes in average temperatures, precipitation patterns, sealevelrise, and extreme events. The primary findings of this report aresummarized in Chapter 3.2 of this guide.Selecting Analysis YearsThe process is initiated by selecting the relevant time horizons for analyzing agiven transportation asset or system. Analysis years can be selected based ontransportation planning cycles, the longevity of a selected category of assets (forCambridge Systematics, Inc. 10-3