FHWA’s Current Activities Related to Climate Change

Southeastern Natural Resource Leadership GroupRegional Climate Change Meeting

Charleston, SCMay 27, 2008

Bob Lee Division Administrator

FHWA South Carolina Division

FHWA’s InterestMission:Improve mobility on our Nation's highways through national

leadership, innovation and program delivery

Environment Strategic Goal:Promote transportation solutions that enhance communities and

protect the natural and built environment.

Three Considerations:Atmospheric GHG ConcentrationsInfrastructure Risk Collaboration

FHWA’s Approach to GHG Reductions

• FHWA focusing on devoting resources where we could make a difference on a bigger scale– Federal Policy solutions may yield greater reductions than at

project level

– Currently gathering information and ideas for our next highway reauthorization bill

– Encourage stewardship on GHG best management practices (construction, maintenance)

• Hosting Executive-Level Interagency Meeting on Greenhouse Gas Reductions– Will discuss federal programs which influence land use

decisions that affect VMT

– June 5, Washington, DC

Approach to Infrastructure Risk

• Gulf Coast Study Analyzed the potential detrimental impacts of rising sea levels and sinking land mass on transportation infrastructure in the Gulf Coast region

• The Potential Impacts of Global Sea Level Rise, Atlantic Coast Study Phase 1: Quantifies potential impact of sea level rise on land and transportation infrastructure in coastal areas (DC, MD, NC, VA).

• NCDOT is conducting a project-level risk analyses assessing sea level rise, storm surge, and flooding.

Collaboration – Planning and Environmental Linkages

• Integrate Environmental Knowledge into Long-Range

Transportation Plans - Smart Transportation Planning • Encourage Cooperation between Resource and

Transportation Agencies

– Eco-Logical Approach

– Linking Conservation and Transportation Planning

– Emergency preparedness for natural disasters and other catastrophic events

Current Climate Change Research

• Gulf Coast Study

• Impacts of Sea Level Rise – Atlantic Coast Study

• Integration of Climate Change Considerations into Statewide, Regional, and Local Transportation Planning

• Integrating Climate Change into the Transportation Planning Process

• Transportation and Climate Change Technical Analysis Tools

• Carbon Sequestration Pilot Project

See handout for additional information on these studies.

Historical VMT

Thanks!

DOT Center for Climate Change and Environmental Forecasting:

(for much more information on current DOT climate change research and activities): http://climate.dot.gov/