addressing climate change adaptation in regional transportation plans

Addressing Climate Change Adaptation in Regional Transportation PlansA Guide for California MPOs and RTPAs5.0 A Basic Approach: IdentifyingImpacts and ExploringAdaptation Options5.1 USING THE CALIFORNIA ADAPTATION PLANNINGGUIDE TO UNDERSTAND LOCAL IMPACTSThe basic approach lays out a qualitative means of evaluating the climateimpacts and exploring adaptation options relevant for your MPO or RTPAjurisdiction.The first step in considering the impacts of climate change within the frameworkof the regional transportation plan is to understand what impacts are specific toyour region.In July 2012, the State of California produced the Adaptation Planning Guide(APG), which designates 11 climate regions within California based on roughclimatic similarity. While conditions are still diverse within each region, therange of climate characteristics is narrower than at the statewide level.Designating regions, thus, allows for greater depth and more detailed guidanceto be presented. Some MPO and RTPA boundaries may fall across designatedclimate regions.Table 5.1 maps the climate regions by county, and describes the top threepotential climate impacts in each region. Appendix C discusses potentialimpacts in greater detail and provides socioeconomic and demographicinformation to support the local understanding of the magnitude of impacts.Appendix C also provides a region-by-region evaluation of relevant climateimpacts, and how they might affect the infrastructure and assets within a region.Figure 5.1 shows the climate regions designated in the APG.Cambridge Systematics, Inc. 5-1