Riley gilbert mass recycle conference march 2017

Transportation Vulnerabilities to Weather and Climate Stressors

March 27, 2017

Presentation to 2017 MassRecycle R3 ConferenceMarybeth Riley-Gilbert, MBTA Climate Change Resiliency Specialist

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• Transportation and Waste Management

• Climate Projections for Boston

• Transportation Vulnerabilities to Weather and Climate Stressors

• Activities at the MBTA

Overview


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• Solid waste transported by multiple modes: rail, highways, shipping

• Reliant on well-maintained, unobstructed roads and railways

• Risk of interruptions in transport, as well as potentially-hazardous spills

• In Massachusetts, freight tracks used for hauling waste—some overlap with MBTA Commuter Rail lines (Fitchburg, Franklin, Lowell, Worcester)

Transportation and Waste Management


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Weather and Climate in the Boston Area


• Sea-level rise (SLR)› Relative SLR 9” during 20th

Century› Projections (2000 baseline)

» Additional 8” possible by 2030» 18” (1.5 ft) by 2050» 36” 2 ft) by 2070

› Storm surge events due to Nor’easters and tropical storms (e.g., Sandy) increase exposure

• Intense precipitation events, freshwater flooding› Current 48-hour, 25-year

event ~7”› Projections

» 2030s: 8.6”» 2070s: 9.8”

• Extreme heat events› Historically, ~11 days per year

>90°F› Projections

» 2030: as many as 40 days» 2070: “ “ 90 days

• MBTA also concerned with other weather› Wind› Cold, snow and ice

» Average annual temps have increased; projected to continue increasing. Cold events will continue, even if less frequently.

» Snow events will continue to occur» More ice events possible as closer

to freezing?

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Transportation Vulnerabilities to Weather and Climate


Sensitivities to Climate and Weather Stressors• Precipitation and freshwater flooding

› Inaccessible facilities, roads, and bridges› Interruption of electrification to third rail› Reduced track and road stability› Flooded engines could cause irreparable damage› Debris damage to catenary poles, gates, track

• Extreme heat›Pavement and rail damage—buckling, increased wear and tear›Engines and electrical equipment may overheat›Regional brownouts can disrupt third rail, tunnel lighting, and ventilation›Health and safety risks when >85°F

• Wind›Damage to infrastructure such as signals, gates, signage›Debris blocking Rights of Way

• Winter weather› Inaccessible facilities, roads, bridges› Increased pavement wear and tear, rutting

›Ice damage to equipment, including switches› Cold: vehicle failure, brittle rail, frost heaves in trackbed, broken pavement from

ice expansion

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Transportation Vulnerabilities to Weather and Climate


Example Sensitivities to Climate and Weather Stressors• SLR and storm surge

› Inaccessible facilities› Interruption of electrification to third rail› Reduced track stability if ballast eroded› Flooded engines could cause irreparable damage› Debris damage to catenary poles, gates, track› Structural damage due to wave action› Long-term impacts from exposure to seawater—Corrosion. Potentially the most

costly and lengthiest recovery time. Full extent of damage may not be obvious at first

Exhibit 6. Corrosion in New York's Canarsie Tunnel after Flooding from Superstorm Sandy (Source: MTA 2016)

Similar impacts to freshwater flooding

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• Organization-wide “no regrets” approach: consider weather and future climate resiliency in all architecture and engineering projects.

• $98M in winter resiliency investments and new SOPs

• Two resiliency projects with FTA grants: rebuilding seawall in Charlestown and adding flood gate on “D” branch of Green Line

• Conducting climate change vulnerability assessment of Blue Line

• Coordinate with other state and local government bodies

Weather and Climate Resiliency at the MBTA


Riley gilbert mass recycle conference march 2017

Environment

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