Overview

On August 5-6, 2010, AASHTO, in coordination with the Center for Environmental Excellence, FHWA, FTA, the Climate Change Technical Assistance Program, the Environmental Technical Assistance Program, and the Standing Committee on Planning, held a Climate Change Symposium in Washington, D.C. The purpose of the symposium was to provide information, both policy-oriented and technical, to support State DOTs in their efforts to address the challenges of climate change.

The symposium sessions addressed a wide range of topics including strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, options for adaptation and preparation for the effects of climate change on transportation systems, and current federal, regional, and state policies and initiatives related to climate change. The symposium provided a broad policy perspective on transportation and climate change, with a focus on GHG mitigation and the integration of GHG reduction considerations in transportation planning, project development, and operations (Day One). It also focused on climate adaptation with a discussion of climate action plans; address the potential adaptation strategies within planning, engineering, and operations; and concluded with a discussion of critical needs for State DOTs in addressing climate change effectively (Day Two).

Symposium Program
Symposium Summary Report
Day 1 Presentations | Day 2 Presentations

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Day 1 Presentations

Welcome and Introduction

Overview on Climate Change
Paula Hammond, Washington DOT

Overview on Climate Change
John Horsley – AASHTO

Overview on Climate Change
Gloria Shepherd, FHWA

Session 1: The Challenge of Climate Change

The Challenges of Addressing Climate Change: Science and Risks
Steve Seidel – Pew Center

Communicating Climate Science
David Herring – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Session 2: Federal Policy Status Report

Climate Change Legislation in Congress
Alex Barron - House Energy and Commerce Committee

EPA Regulatory Developments
Sarah Dunham, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

CEQ Project-level GHG Analysis
Horst Greczmiel, Council on Environmental Quality

Session 3: Integrating GHG Reduction Strategies in Transportation Planning: State Policy Developments

New York State Energy Plan and Climate Action Plan
John Zamurs – New York DOT

Moving Washington Toward Sustainability: WSDOT Planning Actions in Response to HB 2815 and EO 09-05
Brian Smith – Washington DOT

Integrating GHG Reduction in Policy and Planning in Oregon
Margi Lifsey Bradway – Oregon DOT

Senate Bill 375 Implementation
Rob Rundle – San Diego Association of Governments

Session 4: EPA’s MOVES Model

Using MOVES2010 for Estimating On-Road GHG Emissions
Laura Berry – US EPA

Session 5: Transportation Strategies to Reduce GHG Emissions; A National Perspective

Role of Technologies and Alternative Fuels
David Greene, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

U.S. DOT Report to Congress on Transportation’s Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Linda Lawson, U.S. DOT

Transportation Actions Included in State Climate Action Plans
Diane Turchetta - FHWA

Session 6: Transportation Strategies to Reduce GHG Emissions: State Initiatives

Transportation and Climate Change in Maryland
Don Halligan, Maryland DOT

NYS DOT Maintenance and Operations Strategies
Gary McVoy - New York DOT

Carbon Sequestration on Interstate ROWs Pilot Program
Frank Pafko - Minnesota DOT

TxDOT’s Sustainable Pavements: Low Carbon Materials/Alternative Pavements
Dianna Noble - Texas DOT

Session 7: Breakout Groups on GHG Mitigation Strategies

Integrating GHG Reduction in Transportation Planning
Janet D’Ignazio and Michael Grant, ICF International

Integrating GHG Reduction in Transportation Construction, Maintenance, and Operation
Anne Choate, ICF International

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Day 2 Presentations

Session 1: Setting the Stage: Adaptation’s Role in State Climate Action Plans, Federal Climate Policy, and State Climate Policies

Federal Climate Adaptation Efforts
Linda Lawson - U.S. DOT

An Update from Our Laboratories of Democracy: Transportation Adaptation in the States
Vicki Arroyo - Georgetown Climate Center

Session 2: Understanding the Effects of Climate Change on Transportation

Climate Change: An Adaptation Challenge for US Transportation
Michael Savonis - FHWA

Regional Climate Change Effects Report
Rob Kafalenos - FHWA

Session 3: National Efforts to Reduce the U.S. Transportation System’s Vulnerability to Climate Change Effects

FHWA Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change Effects
Butch Wlashcin - FHWA

Vulnerability/Risk Assessment Conceptual Model and Pilots
Michael Culp - FHWA

NCHRP 20-83(05) Climate Change and the Highway System: Impacts and Adaptation Approaches
Michael D. Meyer, Georgia Transportation Institute

Session 4: State-Level Adaptation Initiatives

State Level Adaptation Initiatives: California’s Experience
Garth Hopkins - California DOT

Arctic Civil Infrastructure and Adaptation to Climate Change
Michael J. Coffey - Alaska DOT

Washington State’s Integrated Climate Change Response Strategy
Nancy Boyd - Washington DOT

Pennsylvania’s Climate Change Activities
Danielle Spila - Pennsylvania DOT

Session 5: Charge for Breakout Discussions

Session 6: Breakout Groups on Adaptation

Session 7: Report-Outs

Session 8: Where Do We Go from Here?

TRB Special Report 299: A Transportation Research Program for Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change and Conserving Energy
Emil Frankel - Bipartisan Policy Center Director

Results from TRB Research Workshops
Shari Schaftlein - FHWA

Facilitated Discussion of Research Needs
Anne Choate - ICF International

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