Delaware's Transportation Adaptation in Response to Climate Change.

摘要

A growing concern facing the transportation sector in the United States is the potential impact of climate change on land transportation. As scientific evidence of climate change continues to support the relationship between anthropogenic activities and global warming, greenhouse gas concentrations continue to rise at a rate of more than 2 parts per million each year (Stern, 2006). Currently the United States is the largest emitter worldwide, with transportation accounting for one third of carbon dioxide emissions (Ewing et al., 2008). Therefore, much of the discussion and efforts related to transportation and climate change is focused on mitigation and reducing transportations contribution to climate change (Valsson and Ulfarsson, 2009). As the risk of climate change becomes imminent, pressure for adaptation within transportation agencies to promote sustainable practices and alter behavior, continues to rise. While mitigation efforts are essential to slowing the threat of climate change, adaptation practices to build resilience and protection from impacts should be accelerated (Stern, 2006). Bridging the connection between climate change-induced design factors and reducing their impact through transportation adaptation practice is fundamental. As mitigation techniques such as alternative fuels, congestion pricing, and transportation demand management techniques are implemented, adaptation practices must support changes in infrastructure, land use, and development patterns. The advanced infrastructure along the east coast combined with the impending threat of climate change and rising sea levels has led many to prepare for the potential impacts. Potential impacts specific to the state of Delaware include increases in heat waves and very hot days, rising sea level and increases in intense precipitation events (CIER, 2007). Understanding how these impacts will affect transportation infrastructure including roads, rails, bridges, ports, etc. is essential to successful adaptation planning. This research investigates three studies of adaptation planning for the state of Delaware. The first application focuses on using spatial representation and analysis capabilities of computer based geographical information systems (GIS) to explore possible flooding impacts on railroad corridors in New Castle County, Delaware. The second application explores the impact of sea level rise (SLR), including storm surge, on the I-95 corridor in Delaware transportation infrastructure, land use, and population. The third application is a case study of the Climate Change Adaptation Tool for Transportation: Mid-Atlantic (CCATT: Mid-Atlantic) focused on a Metropolitan Planning Organization in Delaware (WILMAPCO) that evaluates impacts related to temperature, sea level rise and precipitation specific to New Castle County, Delaware from a planning perspective. These three applications serve as examples to promote the integration of adaptation practices into transportation planning.