addressing climate change adaptation in regional transportation plans

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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.
Addressing Climate Change Adaptation in Regional Transportation PlansA Guide for California MPOs and RTPAsHow to Develop a Risk MatrixImplementable in the proper timeframe (implementation feasibility). Thismeans that they are feasible in terms of cost, political will, regulations, andtechnical capabilities, among other factors. This factor will strongly favorstrategies that can be mainstreamed – implemented in accordance withnormal asset replacement or renewal cycles.Effective at mitigating risks, significantly reducing the consequences ofpotential climate events.One case study mentioned in NCHRP20‐83(5) is the New York City Climate ChangeAdaptation (NYCCCA) report, which creates aframework for understanding potentialclimate change risks and devises anapproach to addressing these risks. Thisproject included a Prioritization Matrix,which is a sketch‐level approach tomeasuring benefits and costs. It includesgeneral costs used to implement a strategyand prevent potential negative impacts. Onedimension of the matrix includes fundinglevels, and the other includes urgency. Bothare measured on a low/medium/high scale,and the resulting matrix shows the overlapof the two dimensions.Source: NCHRP, April 2011.The desired result will be a single strategy orportfolio of strategies for each asset thatsignificantly reduces risks in a feasible, costeffectivemanner.The evaluation of strategies can be performed atvarying levels of complexity, ranging from a fairlyqualitative assessment to a comparative benefitcostanalysis – or any level of complexity inbetween. As with all steps of the assessment, themost important factor is the assessment team’scapacity to perform the work efficiently andconscientiously, without chasing unrealisticdegrees of precision.Qualitative EvaluationFor agencies that need to rapidly evaluate multipleadaptation strategies for multiple assets, aqualitative approach is likely warranted. Although“qualitative” describes a continuum of approaches,and may incorporate some quantitative information, generally a qualitativeevaluation will involve the development of a composite ranking ofimplementation feasibility and effectiveness of each strategy, for each timeperiod analyzed. An example result might be expressed as “high”implementation feasibility “medium” effectiveness for a given decade within theClimate Hazard Protection Window. These rankings are likely to change byevaluation period, especially as the severity or frequency of climate hazardsincrease, or asset condition changes (either deterioration or improvement). Thisqualitative approach could be significantly enriched, either by adding specificrating elements to the evaluation dimensions (e.g., using a rating checklist thatbreaks out these elements) or by considering engineering level data (costestimates, drainage calculations, etc.), if available.Each asset may be affected by multiple impacts, and each impact may beassociated with multiple consequences and likelihoods of occurrence –potentially yielding multiple magnitudes of risk that shift over time. Therefore,when prioritizing adaptation strategies, whether for a single asset or an array ofCambridge Systematics, Inc. 12-11
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Adaptation Planning Guide - Advisor
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List of Tables (cont’d.)Table 6.
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Climate Impact RegionsThe APG is or
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APGSTART HERE:PLANNING FOR ADAPTIVE
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What are the designated climate imp
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CA Climate Adaptation Planning Guid
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• Selected Demographic Data. Sele
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Cal-Adapt ProjectionsTable 1. Summa
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Selected Infrastructure and Regiona
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illnesses due to air pollution resu
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Additional Resources• Sea level r
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Cal-Adapt ProjectionsTable 5. Summa
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frequency can harm forests. Large i
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Bay Area RegionCounties: Alameda, C
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the Sacramento and San Joaquin rive
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Table 12. Selected Population Data
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Sea level rise is also expected to
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Additional Resources• Public Heal
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Cal-Adapt ProjectionsTable 13. Summ
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Table 16. Selected Population Data
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As with crops, climate change impac
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Additional Resources• Wildfire Re
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elevations, increased static levee
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The ecosystem functions of the Delt
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Setting and HistoryThe California D
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The islands in the lower Bay-Delta
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Some of the questions that should b
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Southern Central Valley RegionCount
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Biophysical CharacteristicsThe west
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The crops produced are varied and i
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Communities in this region should e
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have the resources to prepare for,
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Additional Resources• Sea Level R
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Timber practices have also had ecos
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Southeast Sierra RegionCounties: Al
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Biophysical CharacteristicsThe sout
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ultimately result in reduced water
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particular concern are populations
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Additional Resources• Sea Level R
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industry around Big Bear. As there
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California Natural Resources Agency
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