Integrating Climate Change into the Transportation Planning Process

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Final Report

July 2008

Prepared for:
Diane Turchetta

Prepared by:
ICF International

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
   1. 1.1. Purpose
   2. 1.2. Methodology
2. Opportunities for Linking Transportation Planning and Climate Change
   1. 2.1. Review of the Long-Range Transportation Planning Process
   2. 2.2. Relationship of Federal Planning Statutes and Regulations
3. Overview of Current Practice
   1. 3.1. Summary of Climate Change Integration Activities
   2. 3.2. Influence of State Climate Change Regulatory Action
4. Inclusion of Climate Change in Existing Transportation Plans
   1. 4.1.Statewide Plans
   2. 4.2.Regional Plans
   3. 4.3.Barriers and Needs
5. Quantification of GHG Impacts in Transportation Plans
   1. 5.1.Transportation Plan GHG Impacts - Current Practice
   2. 5.2.Transportation GHG Inventories - Current Practice
   3. 5.3.GHG Impacts from Construction - Current Practice
   4. 5.4. Barriers and Needs
6. GHG Mitigation Strategies in Transportation Planning
   1. 6.1. Land Use Integration
   2. 6.2. Pricing and Alternative Modes28
   3. 6.3. GHG Benefits of Existing Strategies
   4. 6.4. Barriers and Needs
7. Climate Change Adaptation in Transportation Planning
8. Institutional Relationships
   1. 8.1. Current Practices
   2. 8.2. Barriers and Needs
9. Conclusion

1. Appendix A: List of Interviewees
2. Appendix B: Opportunities for Integrating Climate Change Considerations into Federal Transportation Planning Regulations

List of Figures

1. Figure 1: Opportunities to Integrate Climate Change in Long Range Transportation Planning

List of Tables

1. Table 1: Applicability of Federal Planning Factors to Climate Change (23 CFR 450.206(a) and 450.306(a))
2. Table 2: State DOT Integration of Climate Change in Long-Range Planning Documents
3. Table 3: MPO Integration of Climate Change in Long-Range Planning Documents
4. Table 4: State and MPO Quantification of GHG Emissions from Transportation Plans
5. Table 5: Comparison of MTC Plan Alternatives: 2035 CO2 Emissions (Thousand Tons/Day)
6. Table 6: MPOs and DOTs Involved in a Multi-agency Climate Change Initiative or Plan