Transportation looks at the effects of climate changes for a range of transportation systems—land-based (passenger and freight), marine, and air transportation—analyzing possible direct and indirect effects on transportation infrastructure and to the economy, and describing the vulnerabilities and uncertainties that exist with respect to potential transportation system disruptions.
Citation:
Niemeier, D. A., A. V. Goodchild, M. Rowell, J. L. Walker, J. Lin, and L. Schweitzer. 2013. “Transportation.” In Assessment of Climate Change in the Southwest United States: A Report Prepared for the National Climate Assessment, edited by G. Garfin, A. Jardine, R. Merideth, M. Black, and S. LeRoy, 297–311. A report by the Southwest Climate Alliance. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Deb A. Niemeier (University of California, Davis)
Anne V. Goodchild (University of Washington)
Maura Rowell (University of Washington)
Joan L. Walker (University of California, Berkeley)
Jane Lin (University of Illinois, Chicago)
Lisa Schweitzer (University of Southern California)
Key Findings
Reducing overall vehicle miles traveled (as by single occupancy vehicles) will reduce regional greenhouse gas emissions.
For California ports, sea-level rise will require more frequent dredging of harbors and channels and realignments relative to rising waterline.
Hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicle sales constitute less than 5% of the total passenger vehicle fleet in the Southwest.
Extreme heat events, projected to increase during the course of the next 100 years, can shorten the life of pavements, bridges, and rail lines.
Projected increased precipitation intensity in the Southwest could reduce traffic safety and efficiency, and increase traffic accidents.
Figure Gallery
Figure 14.1: Number of new registered hybrid vehicles in California and throughout the United States. Source: RITA (2008); state transportation statistics.
Figure 14.2: Per capita vehicle ownership and annual vehicle miles traveled in the Southwest. Source: RITA (2008); state transportation statistics.
Figure 14.3: California highways affected by 140cm of sea-level rise. Source: Heberger (2009), Knowles (2009), Pacific Institute GIS data downloads (http://www.pacinst.org/reports/sea_level_rise/ data/index.htm).