addressing climate change adaptation in regional transportation plans

Addressing Climate Change Adaptation in Regional Transportation PlansA Guide for California MPOs and RTPAsActions identified in the planning process are often implemented throughdesign/engineering or operations/maintenance programs, but are moreproactive (less reactive) if formulated as part of planning processes.Design/Engineering. This is a broad category that includes strategies thatconsider how an asset is built or replaced, renewed, or reconstructed. Thismight involve upgrading materials and specifications categorically or acrossthe board to enhance resiliency (the grade of asphalt binder or the diameterof a culvert, for example). Many of these strategies respond to design andengineering considerations specific to each asset – the type and integrity ofthe structure, the grade or quality of materials, the elevation or alignment ofthe facility (location engineering), and even the design capacity of the asset.Strategies within this category could also include the treatment programs(such as preventative maintenance) employed in the course of assetmanagement activities. Design and engineering strategies can beimplemented to manage identified risks, or as an evaluation step duringproject development to address potential climate hazards.Operations/Maintenance. These strategies address problems as they aredeveloping or occurring. Strategies could include ITS and traffic operationsto reduce the effects of disruptions, proactive closures to reduce the risk ofstranded travelers and associated safety impacts, or streamlined emergencyevacuations (better timing, greater capacity of routes). These strategies alsoinclude monitoring, patrolling, and responding to maintenance or life safetysituations during emergencies. Emergency maintenance is crucial toreducing the effects of extreme weather during events and (especially) intheir immediate aftermath. Maintenance could include the rapid repair ofdamage or the mitigation of threats that persist in the aftermath of events,such a debris, downed power lines, and standing flood waters. Theseactivities would typically occur anyway, but are generally reactive in nature –addressing a problem that has already occurred. By addressing thesestrategies in planning or preparedness protocols, they could potentially bedeployed more proactively and with greater effectiveness.Examples of these strategies that are specific to California are outlined inTable 4.1 in Chapter 4.0 of this guide. Where a risk is identified but there is toolittle information for decision-making, the appropriate action may be to monitorand reevaluate the risk in the course of subsequent RTP updates.Select and Evaluate Adaptation StrategiesFor each priority risk, one or more applicable strategies may be selected forevaluation. Some strategies may be implemented together or in phases – aportfolio approach – whereas, others may be mutually exclusive. The preferredselection of strategies will be:Sensitive to the timing of impacts, addressing identified risks before theyexceed risk tolerances.12-10 Cambridge Systematics, Inc.