Abstract

State and regional transportation agencies across the country are facing an increase in extreme weather events that damage roads, bridges and other transportation facilities. Heat waves, drought, storm surges and heavy downpours are becoming more frequent and severe. Sea level rise that is already affecting coastal assets and communities today will accelerate in the future. These climate change and extreme weather events pose significant risks to the safety, reliability, effectiveness, and sustainability of the Nation's transportation system.

Over the course of two years, FHWA worked with State Departments of transportation (DOTs) and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) to undertake 19 assessments of climate change and extreme weather vulnerability and adaptation options on their transportation systems. The pilots used and built on FHWA's Climate Change and Extreme Weather Vulnerability Assessment Framework. This report highlights results and lessons learned from those efforts and will be helpful for others conducting climate change vulnerability assessments. We will fold these lessons learned into an updated Climate Change Resilience Framework. The audience for this report includes transportation planners, asset managers, civil engineers, and others interested in assessing and addressing resilience of transportation systems. More information on climate resilience can be found on the FHWA website at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/sustainability/resilience/.