addressing climate change adaptation in regional transportation plans

Addressing Climate Change Adaptation in Regional Transportation PlansA Guide for California MPOs and RTPAs1.0 Introduction1.1 PURPOSE OF THIS GUIDECalifornia is susceptible to a wide range of climate change effects, includingincrease in temperatures, earlier snowpack melt, changed precipitation patterns,increased severity of wildfires, sea-level rise, extreme weather events, andnumerous changes and effects on biodiversity and habitats. The 2010 CaliforniaRegional Transportation Plan Guidelines issued by the California TransportationCommission highlights only brief information on the adaptation of the regionaltransportation system to climate change. 1Through Senate Bill 375, transportation and land use have become increasinglylinked with climate change mitigation, or managing the reduction of greenhousegases (GHG). However despite the legislative requirement surrounding climatemitigation, Caltrans is also focused on addressing climate change adaptation, orefforts that respond to the impacts of climate change, and would like to supportthe metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and regional transportationplanning agencies (RTPA) to do the same.The Cal-Adapt web portal and the recently published draft California ClimateChange Adaptation Policy Guide by the California Natural Resources Agency(CNRA) produces a set of reliable climate information to assist MPOs and RTPAsin addressing climate change in regional transportation plans and metropolitantransportation plans (this document will refer to both as RTPs). However, thereis still a gap in linking statewide climate information to transportation planning.This guide helps MPOs and RTPAs in California to better incorporate climateassessment and adaptation into the long-range planning process. This guideprovides information for MPOs and RTPAs to make a preliminary assessment ofthe main climate impacts in their regions, with the opportunity to delve intomore rigorous analysis by incorporating local data and information andidentifying resources for in-depth analysis.Although there is no requirement to date to incorporate climate adaptation intoregional transportation planning, this guide provides information and tools tohelp MPOs/RTPAs anticipate the incorporation of climate assessment andadaptation into future planning efforts.1 Section 6.30, Adaptation of the Regional Transportation System to Climate Change.Cambridge Systematics, Inc. 1-1