addressing climate change adaptation in regional transportation plans

Addressing Climate Change Adaptation in Regional Transportation PlansA Guide for California MPOs and RTPAsbetter understand the political context, the climate science, and the practicalimplications to the systems they manage.Part II. A Basic Approach for Incorporating Adaptation in RegionalTransportation Planning. For Basic Users. This part of the guide is wellsuited for MPOs and RTPAs that are thinking about including climateadaptation in their regional transportation plans for the first time. It givesMPOs and RTPAs with limited time and resources an opportunity toexamine these issues within their own planning process. The goal is to stepthrough the issues at a qualitative, sketch-planning level, and to explore theissues that are most relevant for the region. The outcome would be toinclude a high-level description of the basic climate impacts and their effectson the transportation system as a subsection in the RTP.Part III. An Advanced Approach for Incorporating Adaptation in RegionalTransportation Planning. For Advanced Users. This part of the guide is forregions that would like to fully integrate climate adaptation planning intotheir RTPs. This section is comprised of a step-by-step methodology,providing separate modules corresponding to steps in the planning process.The modular approach allows MPOs and RTPAs to focus more or less on anyparticular module given their own interest, and provides recommendationsfor delving into a more detailed process. This approach assumes MPOs andRTPAs will have the capacity to identify a geospatial dataset through existingresources such as Cal-Adapt or local asset and climate GIS layers.Additionally, there are several Sidebars, which are highlighted one- or twoparagraphboxes placed throughout the guide. These provide simplifiedexplanations or applied examples to help MPOs and RTPAs to better understandthe suggested process.1.6 GUIDE OUTLINEThis guide for California MPOs and RTPAs will provide a documented set ofmodules and is organized into the four main parts:Part I: Background Information. This set of three sections provides therationale for why California MPOs and RTPAs should incorporate climatechange into the regional transportation planning case.– Section 2.0. Making the Case for California MPOs and RTPAs toPrepare for Climate Change. Provides a background piece on theimportance of integrating climate change adaptation into regionaltransportation planning efforts.– Section 3.0. Climate Change Science and Impacts. Details currentrelevant data sources and most recent climate information from statewideguidance.1-8 Cambridge Systematics, Inc.