AN ARRAY OF POSSIBILITIES

摘要

Significant sections of the Nation's surface transportation system are at risk due to changes in the Earth's climate. The effects of climate change, such as more frequent and intense heat waves and flooding, are already causing impacts on the Nation's transportation infrastructure. State Route 37 near San Francisco Bay, for example, is at risk of flooding due to rising sea levels, according to the California Department of Transportation. In another western example, roads in Fresno, CA, are wearing more quickly due to the increasing duration of heat waves and the high temperatures they produce. On the east coast, catastrophic flash flooding associated with Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 resulted in significant damage to transportation infrastructure: Erosion destroyed roads and rail beds, undermined bridge foundations, and washed out culverts.