addressing climate change adaptation in regional transportation plans

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State-of-the-Practice Climate Change Adaptation Activities for California MPOs and RTPAsAppendixeconomic, technology, maintenance, and regulatory factors to yield five“influential” scenarios, which are then used to prioritize projects, policies, andtraffic analysis zones in the long-range transportation plan.Washington State Department of TransportationWashington DOT’s (WSDOT) study is exclusive to DOT assets (roadways andbridges), and benefits from extensive inter-agency coordination (13 workshopshad been conducted at the time of writing). WSDOT employs a qualitative 1-10criticality ranking system for specific assets, contrasted with a 1-10 scale ofimpact severity derived through scenario planning to determine potentialvulnerability. Vulnerability rankings are then mapped in GIS. WSDOTconsidered a variety of climate stressors, including sea level rise (western part ofthe state only), flooding, extreme heat, drought, and invasive species.1.4 MPO AND REGIONAL EFFORTSAt the regional level, some Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) havealso started to undertake adaptation planning. Climate change adaptation is stillrelatively new to many MPOs and local governments, but the followingexamples represent state-of-the-practice approaches.King County Guidebook on Local GovernmentThis guidebook is a collaborative effort on the part of a number of organizationsand agencies in the Seattle area. The guidebook focuses on preparing for climatechange effects with the understanding that planning for potential climate eventsis not a “one size fits all approach”. The guidebook’s intended audience is local,regional, and state decision-makers and its purpose is to help these decisionmakersprepare for climate change. The document also explains reasons forbeing proactive about preparing for climate change impacts.Data included in this document are based on a literature review of scientificresearch as well as local experiences with efforts related to preparing for climatechange effects. Additionally, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainabilityprovided input based on experiences with its own climate change adaptationprogram aimed at local and regional governments. The guidebook also includessuggested steps to start one’s “climate resiliency” effort.This source provides great examples of tools available for decision-makers touse, including descriptions of the types of information available on climatechange adaptation as well as an extensive list of sources, organized for easyaccess by category with concise summaries. Summaries of climate change effectsof “mega-regions” within the U.S. from a 2000 NOAA study are also helpful inproviding a high-level perspective on climate change. Case studies summarizingefforts from various communities throughout the U.S. and internationally alsoprovide guidance for decision-makers.B-8 Cambridge Systematics, Inc.
State-of-the-Practice Climate Change Adaptation Activities for California MPOs and RTPAsAppendixOahu Metropolitan Planning OrganizationOahu MPO has identified a limited group of previously identified critical assets,including Honolulu Harbor, the airport, key access roads and bridges, andcommunities with only a single means of ingress/egress. Oahu MPO has used aseries of workshops to perform its assessment, beginning with an initialworkshop for engineers and planners, and continuing with a public inputworkshop, a two-day risk assessment workshop with climate scientists, andconcluding with a socioeconomic impacts workshop. Climate impacts ofparticular concern were flooding, more frequent storm events, and sea level rise.Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)MTC’s project entitled “Adapting to Sea Level Rise” is constrained to assessingthe potential impacts of sea level rise and storm surge. Although MTC is theproject lead, the stakeholder group includes numerous municipal and countygovernments, transportation authorities, services districts, and environmentalnon-profits, such as ICLEI. The study is multi-modal, including major roadwayclassifications, bridges, transit assets, freight assets, and bicycle/pedestrianfacilities.Five primary affects pertaining to seal level rise are considered, all pertaining torising sea levels: 1) More frequent floods, 2) Longer lasting floods, 3) Newflooding extents, 4) Overtopping of shoreline protection structures and resultingerosion, and 5) elevated groundwater and salinity intrusion. The studydeveloped basic categories of shoreline characteristics (e.g., “engineeredshoreline protection) and created new inundation maps to aid in the assessmentof vulnerability and risk. The assessment integrated exposure scenarios withsemi-quantitative asset “sensitivity” ratings and an adaptive capacity rating (forsystem resiliency) to determine overall vulnerability. The risk assessment stepintegrates qualitative evaluations of the likelihood of a given stressor impactingcritical assets with a qualitative prediction of the potential consequence.Houston-Galveston Area CouncilHouston-Galveston Area Council’s (H-GAC) formed the Foresight Panel onEnvironmental Effects to assess possible climate change impacts in the Houstonregion. In 2008, the Panel produced the Foresight Panel on EnvironmentalEffects Report that highlighted its findings. The report, piggybacking off of datafrom the FHWA’s Gulf Coast Study, outlines projected climate changes for theHouston metro area and their impacts on infrastructure, public facilities,ecosystems, and public health. A GIS-based study of sea level rise and floodingscenarios helped to illustrate vulnerable infrastructure and facilities. A numberof adaption recommendations for the region were also offered. For highways,these included using alternative paving products for higher temperatures andconsideration of adaptation in long term transportation planning (includingexploring adaptation implications of different mode choices).Cambridge Systematics, Inc. B-9
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Selected Infrastructure and Regiona
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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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addressing climate change adaptation in regional transportation plans

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