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 Climate
Impacts on Transportation
Overview
In the United States, transportation systems are designed to
withstand local weather and climate. Transportation
engineers typically refer to historical records of climate,
especially extreme weather events, when designing
transportation systems. For example, bridges are often
designed to withstand storms that have a probability of
occurring only once or twice every 100 years. However, due
to climate change, historical climate is no longer a
reliable predictor of future risk.
Climate change is projected to increase the frequency and
intensity of some extreme weather events. Specifically, heat
waves will likely be more severe, sea level rise could
amplify storm surges in coastal areas, and precipitation
will likely be more intense. These changes could increase
the risk of delays, disruptions, damage, and failure across
our land-based, air, and marine transportation systems. Most
transportation infrastructure being built now is expected to
last for 50 years or longer. Therefore, it is important to
understand how future climate might affect these investments
in the coming decades. |
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 Impacts
on Land-Based Transportation
Climate changes will likely impact roadways, ice roads,
vehicles, and railways.
Picture - Tropical
Storm Irene damaged 2,000 roads, 1,000 culverts, and 200
miles of rail, and closed 200 bridges in Vermont in 2011.
Source: USGCRP (2014)
Impacts on Roadways
Higher temperatures can cause pavement to soften and expand.
This can create rutting and potholes, particularly in
high-traffic areas and can place stress on bridge joints.
Heat waves can also limit construction activities,
particularly in areas with high humidity. With these
changes, it could become more costly to build and maintain
roads and highways. On the other hand, certain areas may
experience cost savings and improved mobility from reduced
snowfall and less-frequent winter storms since warmer
winters may lead to reductions in snow and ice removal, as
well as salting requirements.
Climate change is projected to concentrate rainfall into
more intense storms. Heavy rains may result in flooding,
which could disrupt traffic, delay construction activities,
and weaken or wash out the soil and culverts that support
roads, tunnels, and bridges.
Exposure to flooding and extreme snow events also shortens
the life expectancy of highways and roads. The stress of
water and snow may cause damage, requiring more frequent
maintenance, repairs, and rebuilding. Road infrastructure in
coastal areas is particularly sensitive to more frequent and
permanent flooding from sea level rise and storm surges.
Approximately 60,000 miles of coastal roads in the United
States are already exposed to flooding from coastal storms
and high waves. Furthermore, major highways in coastal areas
serve as critical evacuation routes. |
 Evacuation
routes must be protected from flooding and damage so they
may be used for emergencies. In some locations, warmer
temperatures are projected to cause more winter
precipitation to fall as rain instead of snow. Winter
flooding could occur more frequently if the frozen ground
cannot absorb precipitation. Landslides and wash-outs could
also occur more frequently, as saturated soils are exposed
to more rainwater. Drought in areas such as the Southwest
could increase the likelihood of wildfires that reduce
visibility and threaten roads and infrastructure.
Picture - In the Gulf
Coast, 2,400 miles of major roadway could be permanently
flooded by sea level rise in the next 50 to 100 years. This
map shows elevation levels surrounding roadways at risk
under relative sea level rise of about four feet—within the
range of end-of-century projections for this region (under
medium- and high-emissions scenarios). In total, 24% of
interstate highway miles and 28% of secondary road miles in
the Gulf Coast region are at elevations below 4 feet.
Source: USGCRP (2014) |
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Impacts on Ice Roads
Freezing temperatures are required for ice roads in Alaska.
These are frozen routes used to connect northern
communities, as well as the oil, gas, and mining industries.
The tundra beneath these frozen roads is fragile, so
transportation is limited to periods when the ground is
frozen. Warming temperatures would reduce the number of days
when ice roads are open, limiting transportation access to
these areas. To learn more about the impacts of climate
change on transportation infrastructure in Alaska, please
visit the Alaska Impacts & Adaptation page.
Impacts on Vehicles
As temperatures increase, many types of vehicles can
overheat, and tires will deteriorate more quickly. However,
milder winters, reductions in the number of cold days,
delays in winter freezing, and earlier spring thaws may
reduce cold-weather damage to vehicles. |
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 Impacts
on Railways
High temperatures cause rail tracks to expand and buckle.
More frequent and severe heat waves may require track
repairs or speed restrictions to avoid derailments. Heavy
precipitation could also lead to delays and disruption, and
tropical storms and hurricanes can also flood or leave
debris on railways, disrupting rail travel and freight
transport. For example, the June 2008 Midwest floods closed
major east-west rail lines for several days. Like roadways,
coastal railways and subways are subject to inundation from
sea level rise and storm surges. This is particularly true
in underground pathways and tunnels, which are often already
below sea level. For example, after Hurricane Sandy hit New
York City and New Jersey subway and commuter rail systems
with a 14-foot storm surge, millions of people were left
without subway service for over a week in 2012. Damages from
flooding may require rail lines and subway infrastructure to
be rebuilt or raised in future expansion projects.
Picture - Hurricane
Sandy caused flooding in New York City subway stations in
2012. Source: USGCRP (2014)
Impacts on Air Transportation
Climate changes may impact airplanes, airports, and
airstrips, affecting air travel and infrastructure.
Impacts on Air Travel
Periods of extreme heat can affect aircraft performance and
may cause airplanes to face cargo restrictions, flight
delays, and cancellations. However, warmer weather in winter
will reduce the need for airplane de-icing.
In the winter and spring, increased rains and flooding may
also disrupt air travel. Storms can force entire airports to
close, as occurred along the Gulf Coast during Hurricane
Katrina and throughout the Northeast during Hurricane Sandy.
Climate change may increase the frequency of these events
and the number of airports that are affected.
Impacts on Air Transportation
Infrastructure
In addition to causing closures or delays, flooding may
damage facilities, including airstrips. Thirteen of the 47
largest U.S. airports have at least one runway within 12
feet of sea level, making them particularly vulnerable to
coastal storm surge and inundation. For example, in the
tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut,
many critical transportation infrastructure facilities
(including Newark and LaGuardia airports) lie within the
range of current and projected 50-year coastal storm surges.
Many airstrips in Alaska are built on permafrost
(perennially frozen soils). Warmer temperatures will thaw
permafrost and cause the ground to settle, potentially
damaging the foundation and structure of key infrastructure.
Runways and airports may require rebuilding, relocation, or
increased maintenance. |
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 Impacts
on Marine Transportation
Climate changes will likely affect marine transportation
infrastructure and logistics in many ways, both positive and
negative.
Picture - Hurricane
Katrina damaged boats in Gulf Coast ports. Source: NOAA
Impacts on Ships and Sea Lanes
Ships are sensitive to many factors, including the depth of
a channel and the extent of sea ice. Increasing temperatures
could reduce the amount of sea ice in many important
shipping lanes, extending the shipping season. Warmer
winters will likely lead to less snow and ice accumulation
on vessels, decks, and rigging in marine transportation. In
the Arctic, warmer temperatures could also open up the
possibility of a Northwest Passage during portions of the
year, which could reduce shipping times and distances.
However, these new passages may also provide a pathway for
invasive species transport and survival.
Shipping lanes experiencing sea level rise will be able to
accommodate larger ships, reducing shipping costs. However,
higher sea levels will mean lower clearance under waterway
bridges. In inland waterways where water levels are expected
to decline, as in parts of the Great Lakes, ships could face
weight restrictions, as channels become too shallow.
Changes in precipitation can affect shipping in many ways.
Flooding could close shipping channels, and increased runoff
from extreme precipitation events could cause silt and
debris to build up, leading to shallower and less accessible
channels. Channels that are not regularly maintained or have
a lower capacity to store sedimentation are more vulnerable
to abrupt disruptions in service. More severe storms could
also increase disruptions in marine travel and shipping. In
areas experiencing increasing drought, water levels could
periodically decrease, limiting inland shipping on rivers.
Impacts on Ports and Infrastructure
Like other coastal infrastructure, harbor facilities,
including docks and bridges, may have to be raised and
fortified to accommodate higher tides and storm surges as
sea levels rise.
The combination of relative sea level rise, land subsidence,
and more intense hurricanes and tropical storms could lead
to significant disruptions and damage. One particularly
vulnerable area is the Gulf Coast, which is home to seven of
the 10 largest ports in the United States, and brought in
56% of the oil imported into the U.S. in 2011. |
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EPA Page |
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comment. Thanks. |
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Key Points
Climate change is likely to damage transportation
infrastructure through higher temperatures, more severe
storms and flooding, and higher storm surges, affecting the
reliability and capacity of transportation systems.
Coastal roads, railways, ports, tunnels, and airports are
vulnerable to sea level rise, which could lead to delays as
well as temporary and permanent closures.
Climate change impacts will likely increase the cost of the
nation’s transportation systems.
Resources on Climate Change Impacts on Transportation
The Impacts of Climate Change on Gulf Coast Transportation
Under the U.S. Global Change Research Program, the
Department of Transportation, in partnership with the U.S.
Geological Survey, is conducting a detailed case study on
the impacts of climate change on transportation systems and
infrastructure in the Gulf Coast region. The first report of
this study focused on the impacts of climate change on Gulf
Coast transportation systems and infrastructure. The second
report (released partially in 2012 and 2013) provides tools
and guidance to help state and local transportation planners
assess vulnerability and adapt to potential climate impacts.
Transportation and Climate Change: An Assessment by the
National Research Council
In 2008, the National Research Council’s Transportation
Research Board conducted an in-depth study of the impacts of
climate change on land, marine, and air transportation in
the United States.
The report recommends that state and local governments, as
well as private infrastructure providers, incorporate
climate change into long-term improvement plans, design, and
operations and maintenance activities. It also discusses the
potential benefits of using “smart” technologies for
monitoring infrastructure, reevaluating infrastructure
design standards, updating maps used for flood insurance,
and integrating climate change into transportation and land
use planning. |
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Additional Climate Change Information |
Climate Change and Carbon Dioxide
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of climate change
and carbon dioxide.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening and reading practice. |
Carbon Dioxide and Climate Change
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of carbon dioxide
and climate change.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening and reading practice. |
Environmental Group Warns Earth's Health at Risk
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of climate change.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening and reading practice.
A report by the World Wildlife Fund looked at thousands of animal populations
and found they have dropped significantly in 40 years. |
Sea Levels Rising at Fastest Rate in 3,000 years
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of climate change.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening and reading practice.
A group of scientists say sea levels are rising at record rates. Another group
found that January temperatures in the Arctic reached a record high. |
Capturing CO2 Gas Is Not Easy
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of climate change.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening and reading practice.
Most scientists agree that carbon-dioxide gas is partly to blame for climate
change: rising global temperatures. But capturing the CO2 gas released by power
stations is costly and difficult. |
Growth, Climate Change Threaten African Plants and
Animals
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of climate change.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening and reading practice.
Researchers believe Africa may lose as much as 30 percent of its animal and
plant species by the end of this century. |
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