Impacts of Climate Change and Variability on Transportation Systems and Infrastructure

Despite increasing confidence in global climate change projections in recent years, projections of climate effects at local scales remain scarce. Location-specific risks to transportation systems imposed by changes in climate are not yet well known. However, consideration of these long-term factors is highly relevant for infrastructure components, such as rail lines, highways, bridges, and ports, that are expected to provide service for up many years. To better understand climate change impacts on transportation infrastructure and to identify potential adaptation strategies, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Center for Climate Change and Environmental Forecasting is conducting a comprehensive, multiphase study of climate change impacts on transportation in the Central Gulf Coast region. This study, formally known as Impacts of Climate Change and Variability on Transportation Systems and Infrastructure: Gulf Coast Study, is the first such study of its magnitude in the United States and represents an important benchmark in the understanding of what constitutes an effective transportation system adaptation planning effort. The Gulf Coast region was selected as the focal point due to its dense population and complex network of transportation infrastructure, as well as its critical economic role in the import and export of oil, gas, and other goods. The study is funded by the U.S. DOT Center for Climate Change and Environmental Forecasting and managed by FHWA. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has provided support for much of the climate science work. The Gulf Coast Study includes two phases: Phase 1- The study assessed likely changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, sea level rise, and increasing severity and frequency of tropical storms. Phase 1 then explored how these changes could impact transportation systems. Phase 2 - The purpose of Phase 2 is to provide a more detailed assessment of the vulnerability of the most critical components of the transportation system to weather events and long-term changes in climate. This work is being conducted on a single metropolitan area-the Mobile, AL region -with the intention of making the processes used in the study replicable to other areas.