addressing climate change adaptation in regional transportation plans

Addressing Climate Change Adaptation in Regional Transportation PlansA Guide for California MPOs and RTPAsThe five modules are as follows:Module 1: Set Mission, Goals and ObjectivesModule 2a: Assemble Asset Inventory and Screen CriticalityModule 2b: Apply Climate InformationModule 3: Conduct Vulnerability and Risk AssessmentModule 4: Develop Adaptation StrategiesModule 5: Monitor and Evaluate PlanThe modules are meant to be flexible and can be applied with anywhere fromminimal data and resources, to extensive data and advanced technical capacity.This flexibility allows MPOs and RTPAs to utilize this document in a way thatbest serves their needs. It can be used for a first time preliminary assessment ofadaptation issues for the RTP or as a means to formally integrate climateadaptation into the RTP process.Caltrans provides many statewide transportation asset layers as geospatialresources in the GIS Data Library. 13 MPOs or RTPAs interested in utilizing thisassessment process with GIS data layers can download individual layers throughthe Caltrans GIS Data Library. Alternatively, resources such as Cal-Adapt can beused for planning level assessment as a complementary data set to transportationlayers. Smaller or agencies with limited resources will find it helpful to walkthrough each module in a more qualitative fashion or simply to use Part II of thisguide for Basic Users. An agency with more staff and mapping resources maywant to start with the Caltrans GIS Data Library information but layer onadditional local and regional GIS layers to apply a more rigorous climateassessment to its facilities.13 http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/tsip/gis/datalibrary/gisdatalibrary.html.7-2 Cambridge Systematics, Inc.