addressing climate change adaptation in regional transportation plans

Addressing Climate Change Adaptation in Regional Transportation PlansA Guide for California MPOs and RTPAsSANDAG also notes that there are some climate impacts that could lead toincreased and more frequent maintenance costs, premature deterioration, or eventhe failure of transportation infrastructure in the region. A brief note aboutadaptation includes discussing existing fortifications that may need enhancementas sea levels rise and storm surges intensify.Finally, SANDAG does note that there are tools and methodologies forevaluating and adapting to such climate change impacts but they are still in theearly stages of development and will require ongoing monitoring. In theRTP/SCS, SANDAG compiles a list of 31 action items that will be use toimplement the SCS by year 2050. One of the action items acknowledges climateadaptation: “To the extent possible, address climate adaptation issues in thedesign of new projects, and when improvements are made to existinginfrastructure.” The action is proposed for SANDAG, Caltrans and localjurisdictions.Promising Examples from Other MPOs/RTPAsOutside of the four large MPOs, other MPOs and RTPAs are beginning to takenote of climate adaptation and exploring ways to incorporate it in planningprocesses in coordination with local county hazard mitigation planningprocesses, through research conducted at a local university, or explorationthrough existing extreme weather effects already impacting regionaltransportation assets. Summaries from interviews with six leadingMPOs/RTPAs can be found in Appendix B. This section also provides someexamples of nascent climate adaptation activity that will likely evolve in theupcoming RTP cycles.The Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG) hasrecently embarked on an effort to analyze potential environmental impactsand benefits of beach nourishment with opportunistic sand placements.Coastal impacts associated with sea-level rise are widespread and diverse.Impacts of concern for the Monterey Bay region include: increased coastalerosion, coastal inundation, storm and wave damage, and salt waterintrusion. To lessen the effects, the Southern Monterey Bay Coastal SedimentManagement Plan, developed in 2008, was the first coastal regional sedimentmanagement plan completed in California.The plan compiled the best existing information on coastal processes, erosionrates and geomorphology. It identified sources of sediment that could beused in nourishment projects to reduce erosion hazards and evaluated thetraditional costs and benefits of various scales of nourishment projects,including the potential recreational benefits. The plan also evaluated some ofthe regulatory and permitting frameworks involved in managing sedimentwithin southern Monterey Bay.The Fresno Council of Governments (FCOG) staff took part in a regionalclimate change adaptation assessment conducted by the Local Government6-4 Cambridge Systematics, Inc.