addressing climate change adaptation in regional transportation plans

Addressing Climate Change Adaptation in Regional Transportation PlansA Guide for California MPOs and RTPAsDeterioration. Climate impacts may lead to effects on infrastructure that,while not rising to the level of damage, nonetheless cause premature oraccelerated wear to the facility. Deterioration can apply to the entire asset orto specific materials or structural components. For example, standing water(which would most likely also lead to disruption, could have adverse impactson roadway base. Repeated incidents might lead to a need to reconstruct thatroadway section well before standard deterioration curves would suggest.Damage. Damage runs the gamut from very minor – really a continuumfrom deterioration – to the catastrophic. Damage necessitates repair in orderto return the asset to safe, efficient operation, which can draw criticalresources away from other programs. Damage is often, but not always,coupled with commensurate disruptions.Figure 12.2 Vulnerability Spectrum/Consequences of ImpactNo Impact• Either infrastructure is able to withstand climate stressor (is resilient),or asset was not exposed to climate stressor (no consequence).Disrupt• Temporary or partial closure of asset (in hours, days, months ...) as adirect or indirect result of climate stressor. Resulting congestioneffects.Deteriorate• Accelerated or premature deterioration as a result of repeated orisolated exposure to climate stressor. Lifecycle cost impacts.Damage• Climate stressor causes minor, moderate, or major damage to asset(disruption and/or deterioration may also result).Source: Cambridge Systematics, Inc., 2012.Each potential consequence will have an associated magnitude – the “cost,” orrange of costs, of the event in terms of direct dollars, economic losses, reducedmobility, etc. Ideally, at least some of these costs should be related to the criteriaconsidered during the criticality assessment, although there is room forconsideration of additional factors. If, for example, the facility was designatedhighly critical for its economic contributions (say access to jobs, or movement offreight), then these factors should be included in the calculation of loss.Cambridge Systematics, Inc. 12-7