Summary Report: Peer Workshop on Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts

Appendix C - FHWA State Climate Change Adaptation Activities Survey & Related FHWA Activities

Prepared for Peer Exchange on Climate Change Adaptation
December 11, 2008
Washington, DC

Typology of Reported State Activities:

No. of States	Responses
13	Activities/action taking place
15	Activities/actions under discussion
24	No activities underway

Type of Activity	Number Reporting Activity*	States
Policy	8	AK, AR, DE, FL, HI, RI, SC
Strategic Planning/Action Plans	9	AK, CA, DE, DC, MD, NH, OR, RI, VT
Research	5	AK, PA, RI, TX, WI
Implementation	5	LA, ME, NC, TX, VA

*Some DOTs reported more than one type of activity.

Alaska - Adaptation Advisory Group focusing on impacts of GCC
Florida - Considering several Adaptation Policy Options (ADP), many of which have already been approved; includes Built Environment, Infrastructure, and Community Protection
Hawaii - Statewide Transportation Planning Office is gauging the potential impacts of climate change via discussions with University of Hawaii experts

California - State Climate Action Charter includes developing a transportation system "Vulnerability Inventory" and adaptation measures for transportation facilities
Oregon - ODOT documenting existing knowledge about GCC impacts & summarizing data that will lead to development of full vulnerability assessment of transportation infrastructure; made strategic decision to start asset inventories to support future vulnerability assessment.

Texas - TxDOT & TTI evaluating use of warm-mix asphalt (WMA) in place of the typical hot-mix. TxDOT also exploring the possibility of increasing the amount of fly ash used in concrete.
Rhode Island - Using computer-generated image maps of sea-level rise in downtown areas and adjacent to major roadways.

Louisiana - LA DOTD & Corps mapping critical infrastructure (levees, highways, ports, RR, airports); LSU Center for Geoinformatics inventorying current elevation of all LA evacuation routes & completed inventory of current heights of all LA hurricane protection levees
Texas - TxDOT using low-mix asphalt to reduce impact of producing asphalt concrete at high temperatures and reduce asphalt surface temperatures

Short Term (Next Few Months)

Medium Term (FY 2009)

Form adaptation working group
Work with National Weather Service, others on incorporating climate effects in forecasts of frequency and severity of storms
Explore PAVEMENT CALCULATORS
State activities: promote proactive state efforts
Conduct review of FHWA policy, guidance, regulations where adaptation should be considered
Develop interim framework for conducting inventories of transportation assets vulnerable to climate change impacts
Develop Reauthorization proposals

Long Term (Next few years)

Outreach/Education
- Peer exchanges
- Transportation & Climate Change Clearinghouse
- FHWA Adaptation Working Group
Technical Assistance
- Modeling
- Adaptation
Research
- Mitigation strategies
- VMT
- Adaptation Methodology/Tools
Reauthorization
- Proposals
- Preparing for transition/new leadership

Preparing reauthorization proposals
- Stakeholder input
Identifying actions to make a real contribution to reducing GHG emissions
- Actions need to reduce emissions effectively
Tools to measure are not yet adequate
- Working with EPA and others on data/modeling issues
Growth in VMT makes reductions difficult
- Reducing VMT may require fundamental changes