Incorporating Climate Change Considerations into Transportation Planning

Abstract

Transportation emissions are a significant contributor to climate change. Transportation plans and related documentation of metropolitan planning organizations and international cities were reviewed to ascertain whether climate change considerations are being incorporated into the transportation planning process. The review revealed that climate change considerations were not included in a majority of cases in the transportation planning process, especially to adapt transportation systems to the potential effects of climate change. When such consideration did occur, the focus was on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission mitigation, with data collection techniques and analysis tools that were better developed and already in place within many planning organizations. A conceptual framework for transportation planning is presented and used to illustrate how some agencies have considered climate change in each step of the planning process. Recommendations are provided on how GHG emission mitigation and climate adaptation strategies can be incorporated into the transportation planning process.