The objective of this research project was to conduct a preliminary vulnerability assessment of the risks and vulnerabilities climate change poses to the surface transportation infrastructure system in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska region. The report:
· synthesizes data to characterize the region’s climate,
· identifies potential impacts on the regional transportation system,
· identifies critical infrastructure vulnerable to climate change impacts, and
· provides recommendations for more detailed analysis and research needs as appropriate to support managing risks and opportunities to adapt multimodal surface transportation infrastructure to climate change impacts.
Transportation professionals and policy makers can use the results of this report to build a breadth of knowledge and information on regional climate change impacts, understanding vulnerabilities of the transportation system and begin creating more quantitative risk assessment models.