Climate Adaptation & Transportation: Identifying Information and Assistance Needs

The document outlines the challenges U.S. transportation agencies face due to extreme weather, emphasizing that adaptation requires a combination of local contextual data, science literacy for engineers, and improved decision-making tools. It recommends the creation of a central information clearinghouse, enhanced federal technical assistance for local governments, and a shift toward integrating 'the climate question' into the entire transportation lifecycle. Key gaps identified include the need for higher-resolution rainfall data (6-hour or less) and better economic analysis tools to weigh the costs of inaction against the benefits of preparedness.

• Local, non-climate contextual factors are often as important as or more important than climate science data for adaptation decisions, as interactions between these factors can worsen the effects of extreme weather.
• There is a significant communication gap between engineers and climate scientists, necessitating a central clearinghouse for information and guidance on how to interpret and use available datasets and models.
• Transportation professionals require 'science-literacy' and updated professional training to understand how different data sets fit together, rather than becoming scientists themselves.
• Current climate projections often lack the resolution needed for hydraulic engineering; specifically, there is a need for data on rainfall intensity for events of 6 hours or less, rather than the standard 24-hour projections.
• Climate adaptation must be treated as a management and economic issue, requiring tools that calculate the opportunity costs of inaction and the total economic value of assets at risk.
• Federal agencies should provide technical assistance to help states and local governments integrate climate vulnerability assessments into the full transportation lifecycle, from planning and siting to construction and maintenance.

APA

Lutenegger, B. (n.d.). Climate Adaptation & Transportation: Identifying Information and Assistance Needs. Environmental and Energy Study Institute. https://www.eesi.org/files/ReportSummary_EESI-CCAP_Climate_Adaptation_and_Transportation_022813.pdf

Chicago

Lutenegger, Brian. Climate Adaptation & Transportation: Identifying Information and Assistance Needs. Environmental and Energy Study Institute, n.d. https://www.eesi.org/files/ReportSummary_EESI-CCAP_Climate_Adaptation_and_Transportation_022813.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Lutenegger |first1=Brian |title=Climate Adaptation & Transportation: Identifying Information and Assistance Needs |publisher=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/ReportSummary_EESI-CCAP_Climate_Adaptation_and_Transportation_022813.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{luteneggerndclimate, author = {Lutenegger, Brian}, title = {{Climate Adaptation \& Transportation: Identifying Information and Assistance Needs}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/ReportSummary_EESI-CCAP_Climate_Adaptation_and_Transportation_022813.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }