Office of Planning, Environment, & Realty (HEP)
Planning • Environment • Real Estate
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Memorandum |
| Subject: | ACTION:Solicitation for Pilot Projects: Climate Change and Extreme Weather Vulnerability Assessments and Adaptation Options Analyses | Date: November 15, 2012 |
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| /S/Original signed by | ||
| From: | April L. Marchese
/S/Original signed byButch Wlaschin |
In Reply Refer To: |
| HEPN-1 HIAM-1 |
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| To: | Division Administrators Federal Lands Highway Engineers |
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The purpose of this memorandum is to request your assistance in soliciting pilot projects from the State Departments of Transportation (DOTs), Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), Federal Land Management Agencies (FLMAs), and Tribes, to conduct analysis in one of two areas related to climate change and extreme weather adaptation: 1) assessments of transportation vulnerability to climate change and extreme weather events, or 2) developing options for improving resiliency of transportation facilities or systems to climate changes and/or extreme weather events. This pilot program is jointly sponsored by the Office of Environment, Planning, and Realty, and the Office of Infrastructure.
In 2010-2011, FHWA sponsored five MPO and State DOT led pilots to conduct vulnerability and risk assessments of their transportation infrastructure. The pilot teams used a draft FHWA conceptual model for conducting systems-level vulnerability and risk assessments of infrastructure that will likely be impacted by climate change effects. The FHWA has since restructured that conceptual model into an updated framework, incorporating lessons learned from the 2010-2011 pilots and other studies. The FHWA plans to further build on the updated framework with experiences and lessons learned from the new pilot program announced via this memorandum.
The framework is appended to this memo. It is effectively a set of considerations, examples, and resource references for designing and conducting climate change and extreme weather vulnerability assessments of transportation infrastructure and for assessing adaptation options. The framework is intended to be applied to both existing and planned transportation assets.
The pilot projects funded as a part of this effort will use and build on the framework. The purpose of the pilot projects is twofold: 1) to assist State DOTs, MPOs, Federal Land Management agencies, and Tribes advance transportation adaptation assessment activities and 2) to assist FHWA in building on the framework.
We would appreciate your assistance in the solicitation process. We are requesting that your Division staff contact their respective State DOT, MPO, Federal Lands, or Tribal contacts to encourage them to submit descriptions of proposed pilot projects and approach. The following process will be followed for selecting pilot projects:
More details and guidelines regarding the solicitation process can be found in the attached document "Solicitation for Adaptation Framework Pilots." For assistance with the solicitation process, you may contact the following FHWA HQ staff:
Becky Lupes (202) 366-7808 or Rebecca.Lupes@dot.gov;
Tina Hodges (202) 366-4287 or Tina.Hodges@dot.gov;
Mike Culp (202) 366-9229 or Michael.Culp@dot.gov;
Steve Gaj (202) 366-1336 or Stephen.Gaj@dot.gov; or
Joe Krolak (202) 366-4611 or Joseph.Krolak@dot.gov.
We sincerely appreciate whatever assistance you can provide regarding the encouragement of proposals from State DOTs, MPOs, FLMAs, and Tribes for this important initiative.
