ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT, OPERATIONS, AND MAINTENANCE

Transportation System Resilience to Extreme 

Weather and Climate Change

The ability of transportation agencies’ to effectively 

manage, operate, and maintain a safe, reliable 

transportation system is being threatened by a changing 

climate. Extreme weather events are becoming more 

frequent and intense due to climate change, and longterm climatological trends are slowly but inexorably 

changing how transportation systems need to be 

planned, designed, operated, and maintained. A “new normal” is evolving and State departments of 

transportation (DOTs) are turning their focus toward building resilience. 

Climate change will necessitate adjustments by DOT transportation systems management and operations 

(TSMO) and maintenance programs to ensure the resilience of activities such as traffic monitoring and 

management, providing traveler information, traffic incident management, and maintenance management.

Climate Change is a Business Risk

Climate change risks are not yet well-understood by TSMO and maintenance staff. Many agencies are observing changes, however. Agencies 

able to continually evolve practices with minimal interference to achieving their mission will be best positioned to execute a climate-sensitive 

approach to TSMO and maintenance. Additionally, TSMO and maintenance workers as well as DOT emergency responders with whom 

they coordinate are well aware that they will be the public face and the front-line of the response. 

By understanding the risk and assessing the vulnerability of their operations, agencies can avoid being caught off-guard when a significant 

weather event threatens to overwhelm their capabilities.

 Example Climate Change Impacts to TSMO and Maintenance Programs

 Increased frequencies of extreme events require additional 

personnel to monitor, control, report, and respond to events. 

 Changes in long-term climate trends may change seasonal 

work requirements (e.g., changes in winter weather seasons, 

construction timing, or landscaping timing) and additional or 

unique staff expertise to monitor and respond to new types of 

climate events (e.g., snow storm in Atlanta).

 Increases in temperature can increase annual pavement 

maintenance costs, and changes in freeze/thaw cycles can 

increase potholes. 

 Objectives and performance measures relating to emergency 

response or return to level of service may be affected by the 

frequency and severity of extreme events. 

 Bridges with joints and moveable parts are more susceptible to 

damage due to their sensitivity to temperature and water 

infiltration. As a result, affected bridges may need to be closed 

and traffic may need to be re-routed. 

Resilience: The ability to prepare 

for changing conditions and 

withstand, respond to, and recover 

rapidly from disruptions.

November 2015

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ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT, OPERATIONS, AND MAINTENANCE

What Actions Will Increase Resilience?

Adapting TSMO and maintenance programs is largely about 

improving capability rather than a major technology development 

and deployment initiative. Many TSMO and maintenance 

adaptations will be the “low-hanging fruit” to prepare DOTs for 

climate change, in contrast to necessary changes to infrastructure 

design. For example, many of the technology elements used to 

support safety, congestion mitigation, and traveler information 

objectives are already in place. To adapt to climate change, 

agencies need to consider how these existing capabilities that 

already help to improve operations and reliability need to 

evolve to meet the new and emerging requirements of a 

changing climate.

Getting Started

The Climate Change Adaptation Guide for Transportation Systems Management, Operations, and Maintenance provides the rationale and 

specific guidance for integrating the capability for climate change adaptation and extreme weather response into TSMO and maintenance 

programs. It also articulates why doing so will lead to greater sustainability. The guide provides resources to help agencies:

• Self-evaluate where practices need to be altered to enhance resiliency to climate change. 

• Identify what changes need to be made.

• Assess the benefits and co-benefits of making those changes.

• Map out the changes in capabilities that need to be taken to implement them.

For More Information

Download the FHWA Climate Change Adaptation Guide for Transportation Systems Management, Operations, and Maintenance at 

http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop15026/index.htm. 

 Examples of Strategies to Improve Today and 

Prepare for Tomorrow

 Increase the availability of contract staff to assist during 

extreme events. Develop memorandums of understanding 

(MOUs) with other agencies for equipment and staff sharing 

during extreme weather events.

 Increase tracking of costs incurred to respond to specific 

extreme weather events.

 Revise budgeting process and protocols to account for recent 

trends that may diverge from the historical baseline.

 Include consideration of future stressors (e.g., flooding or 

accelerated sea level rise) when making decisions about 

siting equipment. 

 Consider the life-cycle costs of resiliency investments and 

savings in budgeting and design.

Source: CAMPO

FHWA-HOP-15-024 - Transportation System Resilience to Extreme Weather and Climate Change: Executive Decision Maker Fact Sheet

Source: Fotolia