addressing climate change adaptation in regional transportation plans

Addressing Climate Change Adaptation in Regional Transportation PlansA Guide for California MPOs and RTPAs4.0 Climate Changeand TransportationInfrastructureLong treated as a minor component of climate action planning, climate changeadaptation has risen to the forefront in recent years and the literature on itsrelation to transportation planning is growing rapidly. At the national level,America’s Climate Choices calls for a national strategy on adaptation – includingmaking the transportation network less vulnerable to climate change (NRC,2010). In June 2011, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood announced apolicy statement on climate change adaptation, stating that the U.S. Departmentof Transportation (DOT) “shall integrate consideration of climate change impactsand adaptation into the planning, operations, policies and programs of DOT”and encourages “state, regional and local transportation agencies to considerclimate change impacts in their decision-making” (LaHood, 2011).4.1 ADDRESSING IMPACTS TO TRANSPORTATIONA growing number of transportation agencies have begun incorporating climatechange considerations into their planning and design. A survey of state DOTs,conducted for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in 2008, found that13 state DOTs had some kind of action or activity underway regardingadaptation, 15 had discussions on the issue taking place, and another 24 had noaction or activity related to adaptation at all (FHWA, 2008).For instance, Executive Order S-03-05 requires state agencies in California to planfor sea-level rise, shifting precipitation, and extreme weather events; and isdeveloping a statewide information strategy to support infrastructurevulnerability assessment. As part of this effort, California has formed the Coastaland Ocean Climate Action Team, often referred to as CO-CAT, whose task it is toensure the State’s ability to adapt to climate change impacts on coastal resources(Caltrans, 2011).Alaska, which is already experiencing climate impacts, has set up a state-levelAdaptation Advisory Group, which includes a Public Infrastructure TechnicalWorking Group, and the State Department of Transportation and PublicFacilities is actively involved in community relocation and seeking enhanceddata collection and collaboration across agencies (Ritter, 2009).Most state DOTs, as well as the FHWA, regard development of an infrastructureinventory and vulnerability assessment as one of the first steps that will beCambridge Systematics, Inc. 4-1