Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), TexasCity of Austin, Office of Sustainability

Climate Change and Extreme Weather Vulnerability Assessment for Central Texas TransportationFederal Highway Administration (FHWA) Pilot Project

Two types:

Vulnerability Assessment Pilot

Adaptation Options and Integration

Completion Date September 2014 Evaluate and rank assets

CRITICALITY TO REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION

VULNERABILITY TO EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS

Use and share results Transferable methodology

FHWA Pilot Project

2013 Vulnerability Assessment

recipients:

Alaska DOT

Arizona DOT

Capital Area MPO (CAMPO)

Connecticut DOT (ConnDOT)

Iowa DOT

Maine DOT

Michigan DOT

Minnesota DOT (MNDOT)

North Central Texas Council of

Governments

Tennessee DOT (TDOT)

Project Overview

PROJECT AREA

POPULATION (April 1st, 2013)

CITY OF AUSTIN: 842,750 REGIONAL: 1,870,872 REGIONAL 2035: 3,250,000

Project Overview

UNIQUE FEATURES TOPOGRAPHY &

GEOLOGY WEST - ROCKY HILL

COUNTRY EAST – FLAT, SOFTER

SOILS

SOURCE: CAMPO, FEMA

SOURCE: GEOLOGIC ATLAS OF TEXAS, TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD

Project Overview

SOURCE: EPASOURCE: USDA

MAP: ADMINISTRATIVE CLIMATE DIVISIONS OF TEXAS

Project Overview

SCOPE REGIONAL

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM (6 COUNTIES)

Existing and planned facilities

GOAL Incorporate results

into the planning process to increase climate resiliency

*BURNET CO. NOT REPRESENTED ON THIS MAP

Roads Bridges Passenger rail Freight rail Airport Public Transportation Bicycle and Pedestrian

Asset categories to be considered:

Potential Impacts

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CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECT

IMPACTS

Higher high temperatures, more hot days

• Asphalt deterioration, road buckling• Thermal expansion of railroad tracks and paved surfaces • Changes to biodiversity (impacts pest management, wetlands commitments,

endangered and invasive species)• Pavement & structural design changes

Drought /Lack of precipitation

• Shrinking clay soil – road damage & water main breaks• Loss of vegetation and soil stabilization• Changes to biodiversity• Increase in wildfires

More frequent, intense wind speeds

• More frequent sign damage, truck rollovers, debris disruptions • Power outages, disrupted traffic lights and other electronic infrastructure• Disrupted air travel• Increase in wildfires

More frequent, intense precipitation

• Loss of visibility, lane obstruction• Increased flooding of roads- weather-related delays, traffic disruption• influence scour rates - size requirements for culverts• Standing water impact on road base • Erosion of road base resulting in structural failures• Impact on emergency services and evacuation routes

Local Impacts

Buckling roads - 2009

Drought: Disrupted Water - 2011

Flooding: Tropical Storm Hermine - 2010Wildfires - 2011

High winds - 2013

Fallen tree - 2013

Aftermath of wildfire - 2011

Sinkhole - 2009

Asset Categories

Impact

Impact-Asset Relationships

Threshold

Railroads Heat Increases in temperature lead to increased risk of buckling and expansion.

110°F cited as threshold for buckling. At 90°F, rail speed is slowed.

Roads and health

Heat High temperatures can increase health and safety risk as well as engine and equipment heat stress

Health and safety risk as well as possible engine/equipment heat stress begins at around 85°F, but the situation becomes more critical at 105-110°F.

Roads and Highways

Wind High winds cause safety risks and travel delays, a loss of visibility, impaired mobility, loss of communications and power, freight/cargo damage risk, increased risk of collisions/spills of hazardous cargo, and transport schedule delays.

Winds become dangerous to road maintenance, truck operations, and other road users at around 39 mph and are very dangerous at 74

mph.

Airports Rain An increase in precipitation can impede aircraft traffic and flight departure/arrivals.

Heavy rain of 1 to 2 inches per hour. When runway becomes wet from precipitation.

Infrastructure

Drought

A decrease in precipitation coupled with heat can cause clay soils to shrink and disrupt waterlines

40 consecutive days over 100°F without rain may impact water infrastructure

Setting Thresholds (Mobile AL. example)

Adaptation Framework

Risk Assessment Vulnerability = Exposure, Sensitivity, Adaptive Capacity Vulnerability Assessment Matrix

Adaptation Framework

Challenges and Opportunities Combining and understanding multiple

disciplines

Communicating relevance given varied opinions on climate change in the region

Incorporating results into existing processes and avoiding “just another study on the shelf”.

Questions?