Resources and Publications

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This page highlights resources and publications supported by FHWA. For other climate change and transportation resources, please visit the USDOT Transportation and Climate Change Clearinghouse. Click on the links below to find resources in a particular category.

Background on Climate Change and Transportation
Electric Vehicle Research
Workshops/Peer Exchanges and Webinars
Sustainability
State Climate Change Action Plan Information
Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Impacts of Climate Change and Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts
Both Mitigation of and Adaptation to Climate Change
Outreach Materials

Background on Climate Change and Transportation

Cover image of AASHTO Center for Environmental Excellence Primer on Transportation and Climate Change

AASHTO Center for Environmental Excellence Primer on Transportation and Climate Change (April 2008) (Link to PDF version of the primer is available at the bottom of the page). The primer provides some scientific background on climate change, introduces climate change policy issues, and discusses areas of further research. It details some GHG emission trends that relate to the road transportation sector and discusses technological transportation improvements that could help reduce GHG emissions.

Electric Vehicle Research

FHWA, AASHTO and the Pew Center for Climate Change have undertaken a research project to accelerate the adoption of plug-in electric vehicles by defining an action plan for integrating these vehicles with the U.S. electrical grid nationwide. Three white papers will be developed as a result of the project including:

State of Play: identifies and explains (1) challenges for the nationwide development of the plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) market, (2) public policies in place to support PEV deployment, (3) PEV market forecasts, and (4) current PEV deployment (Completed)
Literature Review : summarizes (1) key externalities that PEVs might address; (2) issues related to PEVs, the electric power system, and the vehicle market; and (3) public policy options. (Completed)
The Action Plan: Will propose a set of recommendations for integrating plug-in electric vehicles with the U.S. electrical grid nationwide. The plan will address the respective roles of the various government and private sector players, lay out a timeline for critical steps, and describe an adaptive strategy that takes into account lessons learned. (In Progress)

More information on the project can be found at the Pew website at: http://www.pewclimate.org/publications

Workshops/Peer Exchanges and Webinars

	On June 14th and 15th, 2011, FHWA hosted a peer exchange in Baltimore, Maryland, focused on "The Role of State DOTs in Climate Change Mitigation." The peer exchange provided an opportunity for representatives from eight state DOTs to discuss opportunities for mitigating climate change within their state DOTs and when managing their state transportation systems. This document summarizes the presentations, participant discussions, and cross-cutting themes from the peer exchange and notes additional resources available to state DOTs. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/climate/mitigation/
	In April 2011, FHWA conducted a peer exchange on climate change impacts and adaptation issues in the mid-west, held in Indianapolis, Indiana. A first half-day was devoted to discussion among Indiana’s MPOs. A second full day convened state DOT representatives from Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, and Ohio, as well as FHWA Division Office and Resource Center personnel from mid-western states. This report summarizes the peer exchange presentations and discussions. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/climate/midwest_adaptation_peer_exchange/index.cfm
	The FHWA/AASHTO 2010-2011 webinar series on Climate Change includes a series of presentations on issues relevant to transportation. Please visit the AASHTO website for more information on the webinars at: http://climatechange.transportation.org/webinars/
	In 2010, AASHTO sponsored climate change workshops for 10 state DOTs: Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Missouri, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and West Virginia. In 2011, an additional 7 workshops are being conducted, April-July 2011: Arizona, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Vermont. These 17 states were selected from 30 states that applied to AASHTO for a workshop. Please visit the AASHTO website for more information on the workshops at: http://climatechange.transportation.org/state_dot_workshops/
	FHWA/AASHTO Climate Change Adaptation Peer Exchange (June 2010) The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), with the support of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), convened a peer exchange on current climate change adaptation activities and strategic needs in Schaumburg, Illinois, on December 8, 2009. This workshop included senior officials of state departments of transportation (DOTs), FHWA headquarters and division offices and AASHTO. This report summarizes the results of the exchange, and is one of series of FHWA reports documenting the results of national peer exchanges on integrating climate change considerations into the transportation planning process. The first adaptation peer exchange took place in 2009, and can be found at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/statewide/pwsacci.htm
	Summary Report: MPO Peer Workshop on Planning for Climate Change (October 2008). This report summarizes discussions from an MPO peer workshop on transportation planning for climate change, which took place in Seattle, WA. The peer workshop focused on current MPO practices that address climate change issues, as well as outcomes, challenges, and areas of common concern.
	Summary Report: MPO Peer Workshop on Planning for Climate Change (September 2008). This report summarizes discussions from an MPO peer workshop on transportation planning for climate change, which took place in Albany, NY. The peer workshop focused on current MPO practices that address climate change issues, as well as outcomes, challenges, and areas of common concern.
	Summary Report: MPO Peer Workshop on Planning for Climate Change (March 2008). This report summarizes discussions from an MPO peer workshop on transportation planning for climate change, which took place in Seattle, WA. The peer workshop focused on current MPO practices that address climate change issues, as well as outcomes, challenges, and areas of common concern.

Sustainability

Transportation Planning for Sustainability Guidebook HTML version or PDF version (18Mb) (January 2011). Sustainability Evaluation and Planning Guidance for Transportation Systems (Transportation Planning Cooperative Research Broad Agency Announcement DTFH61-08-R-00011)

Information on State Climate Change Action Plans

Review and Assessment of State Climate Action Plans
Transportation and State Climate Action Plans: What You Need to Know FHWA

Webinar March 25, 2010 in HTML and MS PowerPoint (1.1 MB)
State Climate Plan Transportation Measures in HTML and MS Excel

Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

	Assessment of GHG Models for the Surface Transportation Sector (November 1999). This paper is a survey of several models used in the U.S. to estimate the impact of GHG control strategies in the surface transport sector.
	Assessing the Effects of Freight Movement on Air Quality at the National and Regional Level (April 2005). This report evaluates the impacts of freight transportation on national and regional air quality and discusses technological and operational strategies that can mitigate freight emissions. The report concludes with recommendations for further research to explore linkages between freight transportation and air quality.
	Carbon Sequestration Pilot Program Results (HTML) or (PDF - 424Kb) (May 2010).FHWA established the Carbon Sequestration Pilot Program (CSPP) in 2008 to assess whether a roadside carbon sequestration effort through modified maintenance and management practices is appropriate and feasible for state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) when balanced against ecological and economic uncertainties. In addition to this report, FHWA has developed a Highway Carbon Sequestration Estimator to help DOTs assess the return on investment for various carbon sequestration scenarios. The decision-support tool allows transportation officials to make estimates based on state-specific considerations. The Estimator tool may be acquired by contacting Carson.Poe@dot.gov
	Greenhouse Gas Control Strategies: A Review of "Before-and After" Studies (November 1999). This paper summarizes the results of a literature search on U.S. efforts to reduce GHG emissions from on-highway vehicles and public transit modes.
	Guidance: Planning Program Funds to Support Integration of Transportation, Land Use, and Climate Change (November 2008). Current FHWA/FTA planning requirements (23 U.S.C. 134 and 135, 49 U.S.C. 5303 and 5304) call for MPOs and State DOTs to consider land use and economic development impacts in their transportation planning processes. The FHWA/FTA issued guidance to clarify the eligibility and criteria for use of FHWA/FTA metropolitan and statewide planning program funds to support Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and State Planning and Research (SPR) work activities addressing the integration of transportation, land use, and climate change.
	Transportation's Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions (April 2010) was mandated by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The report analyzes a full range of strategies available to reduce transportation's greenhouse gas emissions.
	Workshops on Integrating Climate Change with Transportation Planning or PDF - 233Kb. (March 2011) This report provides a summary of five workshops on addressing climate change in the State and metropolitan transportation planning processes that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) sponsored in 2010.

Impacts of Climate Change and Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts

	1st Workshop on Impacts of Global Climate Change on Hydraulics, Hydrology, and Transportation (March 2005). This workshop, the first in a pair of workshops sponsored by the U.S. DOT Center for Climate Change and Environmental Forecasting and other partners, focused on the potential impacts of climate change on hydraulics, hydrology, and transportation with a particular focus on sea level rise.
	2nd Workshop on Impacts of Global Climate Change on Hydraulics, Hydrology, and Transportation (March 2006). This workshop, the second in a pair of workshops sponsored by the U.S. DOT Center for Climate Change and Environmental Forecasting and other partners, focused on the potential multimodal impacts of climate change on hydraulics, hydrology, and transportation with a particular focus on sea level rise.
	Coastal Sensitivity to Sea-level Rise: A Focus on the Mid-Atlantic Region (January 2009). This study, CCSP SAP 4.1, sponsored by EPA, assesses the impacts of sea-level rise on the physical characteristics of the Mid-Atlantic coast, on coastal communities, and the habitats that depend on them. The report examines multiple opportunities for governments and coastal communities to plan for and adapt to rising sea levels. [USDOT was a contributing author to Chapter 7.]
	Impacts of Climate Variability and Change on Transportation Systems and Infrastructure – Gulf Coast Study (March 2008) The research, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), was conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP). This report, the first in a three-phase effort, assesses the potential climate-change-related impacts to transportation infrastructure in the U.S. Gulf Coast region and describes ways to incorporate climate change issues into transportation planning. The major drivers of climate change examined in the report were rising sea levels, warming temperatures, precipitation pattern changes, and increased intensity of storm activity.
	Literature Review: Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment, Risk Assessment, and Adaptation Approaches. July 2009 This document details how vulnerability, risk, and adaptation assessments have been or could be used to integrate climate change impacts into transportation decisions and ultimately increase the adaptive capacity of the highway system.
	The Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Transportation: Workshop Summary and Proceedings (October 2002). This report provides a summary and eighteen discussion papers from a workshop exploring the potential impacts of climate change on transportation systems and services.
	The Potential Impacts of Global Sea Level Rise on Transportation Infrastructure - Atlantic Coast Study (October 2008). This study assesses the potential net effects of sea level rise, and associated increases in storm surges, on transportation infrastructure coastal states and low-lying regions on the Atlantic coast from New York to Florida. Using statistics from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the report describes several scenarios for sea level rise and provides a series of statewide and county maps that visualize the potential impacts of sea level rise on transportation infrastructure.
	Regional Climate Change Effects: Useful Information for Transportation Agencies (May 2010). Also in PDF: Report & Appendix A (1.3MB), Appendix B (17.5MB), Appendix C (463KB). This document provides basic information on projected future climate change effects (changes in temperature, precipitation, storm activity and sea level rise) over the near term, mid-century and end-of-century. The report includes two appendices: maps for some of the climate change effects, and a "typology" of projected climate change information gleaned from recent reports.

Both Mitigation of and Adaptation to Climate Change

	Educating the Public on Climate Change Issues: DOT and MPO Best Practices or PDF - 129Kb. (June 15, 2010) This document summarizes outreach activities and public education initiatives used around the country by State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to educate the public on transportation-related climate change issues.
	Assessing State Long Range Transportation Planning Initiatives in the Northeast for Climate and Energy Benefits (December 2005) This study identifies state LRTP practices for climate protection and energy efficiency outcomes.
	Carbon Dioxide, Climate Change, and the Boston Region MPO: A Discussion Paper (May 2008). This paper identifies the current and potential climate change-related impacts to the Boston, MA region, details current actions undertaken by the Boston Region MPO to address climate change issues, and discusses possible future actions for the Boston Region MPO to reduce GHG emissions
	Climate Change - Model Language in Transportation Plans. (May 2010) This document provides excerpts from various MPOs and DOT’s transportation plans that illustrate how climate change considerations have been integrated into the documents. Agencies that are looking for ideas about how to incorporate climate change into their transportation plans could find the model language very useful. (PDF 89 KB)
	Integrating Climate Change into the Transportation Planning Process (July 2008). This study reports on opportunities for States and MPOs to incorporate climate change considerations into long-range transportation planning (LRTP) processes, including adaptation and mitigation practices. The study also describes examples of current state and MPO practices that link climate change and the LRTP process.
	Transportation and Climate Change News is a monthly newsletter that provides transportation stakeholders with up-to-date information on transportation and climate change milestones.