Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Planning : Agency Roles and Workforce Development Needs.

PDFTech ReportLabor forceClimate changeGlobal warmingPersonnel developmentGovernment agenciesTransportation departmentsWorkforceClimate adaptionVermontUnited StatesNational Center for Sustainable TransportationDowds, JonathanAultman-Hall, Lisa, 1968-Vallett, CarolMcRae, GlennUniversity of Vermont. Transportation Research CenterNational Center for Sustainable TransportationUS Transportation CollectionThis report is one of two NCST Research Reports produced as part of a project to evaluate the state of practice and adequacy of technical tools for resiliency and adaptation planning. A companion report, Network Requirements for Assessing Criticality for Climate Adaptation Planning, focuses specifically on the technical challenges of conducting criticality assessment for climate adaptation and resiliency planning. Because climate change is increasing the intensity and frequency of many extreme weather events, climate adaptation and resiliency planning are increasingly important tasks for transportation agencies at all levels of government. While specific climate threats and adaptation needs varies by location throughout the United States, all agencies face challenges in terms of resource availability (including staffing levels and staffing expertise) and the quality of the technical tools for adaptation planning. In 2015, the University of Vermont Transportation Research Center conducted a survey of planning organizations in the U.S. concerning climate adaptation planning intended to assess the adaptation planning capacity, workforce development needs, and current preparation levels of local and state agencies as well as the adequacy of currently available technical tools. The survey consisted of 14 multiple choice or open-ended questions and garnered 154 respondents, including representatives from planning organizations, state transportation agencies and others involved in transportation planning. Given the significant infrastructure owned by local agencies, both local and regional agencies have an important role to play in adaptation planning. Particular attention must be paid to asset criticality rating that cannot be conducted in isolation by either the local or the state agency since it must account for the network redundancy and vulnerability of both state and local infrastructure. Additional policy discussions are needed regarding the roles of different agencies