addressing climate change adaptation in regional transportation plans

State-of-the-Practice Climate Change Adaptation Activities for California MPOs and RTPAsAppendixspecifically being done to address it. There is a lot of uncertainty around theimpacts of climate change, and SBCAG would not know how decide whichclimate change impacts should be incorporated into the planning processThis topic is increasingly important as awareness about climate changeadaptation grows. A recent roundtable discussion on climate change adaptationtook place in Santa Barbara County. The topic is gaining attention, but there isstill no formal framework for considering the issue at the MPO level. SBCAGstaff do not feel equipped to handle incorporation of climate change adaptationinto the organization’s RTPs. In the face of many new requirements (e.g., SB 375and Sustainable Communities Strategy), SBCAG has not focused on adaptation.Efforts UnderwayThere is a nascent local information building movement considering climatechange adaptation. A couple examples include the document prepared byUCSB’s Ocean and Coastal Policy Center “Developing Adaptive Policy toClimate Disturbance in Santa Barbara County” as well as a committee focused onwetland recovery in Goleta Slough near the airport. This adaptation study wasdriven by the desire to identify facilities at risk in the Goleta Slough.At the time of the interview, SBCAG had not received any comments from boardmembers regarding climate change adaptation. Some local interest groupstalking discussed the issue with South Coast supervisors, however, adaptationhas not been discussed during a formal board setting. Regarding the upcomingRTP, SBCAG has recently (August 2011) informed the Board on the RTP/SCSoutline and the performance assessment measures. Thus far, the informationprovided to the Board has only been for background purposes (i.e., the reporthas not been reviewed).At the time of the interview, SBCAG was not planning to address climate changeexcept with regards to mitigation; SBCAG’s focus will specifically be on thereduction of greenhouse gas emissions in passenger vehicles and light trucks.This is in compliance with the state law.SBCAG staff report that the California Coastal Commission is requiring anassessment of climate change adaptation (sea level rise) in advance of permittingof projects and local programs that they certify. Thus, climate change adaptationis considered directly by the county. However, this has not affected how SBCAGapproaches the RTP.How Caltrans Can Help MPOs Incorporate Climate ChangeAdaptation into the Planning ProcessSBCAG staff report that in order to integrate the effects of climate change into theplanning progress, SBCAG would need more specific information about theexpected effects of climate change and guidelines or a framework to betteranalyze how climate would affect the region and balance these affects against theagency’s other priorities. It was suggested that step-by-step instruction designedCambridge Systematics, Inc. B-15