National Cooperative Highway Research Program

NCHRP Research Update for STEICSOctober 19, 2013

NCHRP PROJECTS OF INTEREST

20-83(5): Climate Change and the Highway System: Impacts and Adaptation Approaches;

20-05/Topic 44-08: Response to Extreme Weather Impacts on Transportation Systems;

08-36/Task 107: Synthesis of State DOT and MPO Planning and Analysis Strategies to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions;

25-25/Task 76: Synthesis of Climate Change and Transportation Research Efforts at State DOTs, State Universities, and Federal Level;

25-25/Task 94: Integrating Extreme Weather into Transportation Asset Management Plans; and

25-25/Task 95: SCOE Strategic Plan and Research Plan for SCOE Areas of Interest.

20-83(05): CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE HIGHWAY SYSTEM: IMPACTS AND ADAPTATION APPROACHES

Synthesize the range of impacts of climate change on the highway system by region of the United States for the period 2030-2050.

Recommend institutional arrangements, tools, approaches and strategies that state DOTs can use during the different stages of planning and project development and system management.

Prepare guidance for dealing with impacts.

Identify future research and activities needed to improve our understanding.

Status: Final report received. Publication expected by April 2014. Some guidelines include:

1. How might climate change affect xxxxx?

2. What is the adaptive transportation system management approach to considering climate change?

3. What are the elements of an adaptive xxxxx program?

4. What strategies can be considered as part of the adaptive xxxxx program?

5. What is the process for considering the analysis of such strategies as part of decision making?

6. What are the risk assessment and cost effectiveness tools that can be used to analyze possible strategies?

7. How is an adaptive xxxxx program established?

20-83(05): CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE HIGHWAY SYSTEM: IMPACTS AND ADAPTATION APPROACHES

Includes a Practitioners’ Web-based Tool to Suggest What Adaptive Actions Should be Considered, If Any

SYNTHESIS 20-05/TOPIC 44-08 – RESPONSE TO EXTREME WEATHER IMPACTS ON TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

Eight cases involving diverse weather events studied1. Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey (2012)

2. River flooding in Iowa (2011)

3. Intense rains, floods, and tornadoes in Tennessee (2010)

4. Intense rains and floods in Washington state (2007)

5. Tropical Storm Irene in Vermont (2011)

6. Severe snowstorms in Alaska (2011-2012)

7. Drought and Wildfires in Texas (2011)

8. Prolonged Heat Event in Wisconsin (2012)

FINDINGS OF THE SYNTHESISPUBLICATION EXPECTED MID-JANUARY 2014

Reimbursement from Federal programs drives many state practices.

Interagency coordination is important. Investments in training (e.g. in emergency management, Federal

program reimbursement, GIS, etc.) often cited as having facilitated response/recovery.

Engaging in meetings, workshops and other structured activities to share and document knowledge in preparation for future similar events.

Utilizing geospatial data to identify sites at risk and safe locations. Sharing information through online platforms, such as SharePoint

and WebEOC to enable a quick response. Developing After Action Reports and other records of effective. Developing succession planning and record retention strategies to

retain knowledge. Research priorities identified.

25-25 AND 08-36 COMPLETED EFFORTS

NCHRP 08-36/Task 107: Synthesis of State DOT and MPO Planning and Analysis Strategies to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=3096

NCHRP 25-25/Task 76: Synthesis of Climate Change and Transportation Research Efforts at State DOTs, State Universities, and Federal Level

http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=3119

ADDITIONAL ONGOING 25-25 PROJECTS

NCHRP 25-25/Task 94: Integrating Extreme Weather into Transportation Asset Management Plans Project selected in October 2013. Report expected by April 2015.

NCHRP 25-25/Task 95: SCOE Strategic Plan and Research Plan for SCOE Areas of Interest Project will include a road map for extreme weather

research.

ASSET MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE

ASSET MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE: EXTREME WEATHER TRACK

NCHRPEst. 1962

http://www.trb.org/NCHRP