Chapter 6

Transportation Sector

Presenter: Ted Zoli, PE

HNTB Corporation

NIST Disaster Resilience Fellow

Photo Credit:

US DOT
6.1 Introduction

• The transportation sector is critical to the community, the community built 

environment, and community disaster response and disaster recovery

• The transportation sector is very complex with multiple stakeholders and 

interconnecting modes: roadway networks, rail lines, airports, harbors, 

ports, waterways and pipelines

• It is vital to community evacuation, emergency response, access to 

critical community facilities and recovery from disasters

• Movement of people and goods usually relies on multiple modes

• The vulnerability of the transportation sector will directly affect the 

resilience of the community and its infrastructure
6.1 Introduction

6.1.1. Societal Needs and System Performance Goals

The community has short (0-3 days), intermediate (1-12 

weeks), and long term (4-36+ months) recovery needs that 

are dependent on transportation

• Access for emergency responders

• Access for those that restore critical infrastructure (energy, 

communications, water/wastewater)

• Access to facilities for shelter, medical care, 

banks/commerce, and food

• Egress/evacuation from a community before (if advanced 

warning is provided) or immediately after a disaster event, 

if needed

• Ingress of goods and supplies immediately after event to 

provide aid
6.1 Introduction

6.1.2. Interdependencies

• Dependencies of other sectors on 

transportation

• Dependencies of transportation sector on 

other sectors

• Intermodal transportation dependencies

Target Field Station multi-modal hub 

Minneapolis, MN

Fuel Tanker

Electric vehicle charging 

station in Portland, OR

Photo Credit:

US DOT - FTA

Photo Credit:

US DOT FHWA

Photo Credit:

USDOT Maritime 

Administration
6.2 Transportation Infrastructure

6.2.1. Roads, Bridges, Highways, and Road Tunnels

Roads and Highways:

• loss of a key road, bridge or tunnel will negatively impact the community’s short, 

intermediate, and long term recovery needs that are dependent on 

transportation

Road undercutting in 

the aftermath of 

Hurricane

Local Road Blocked 

by Fallen Trees 

Bridge sections slid 

off their supports 

during Hurricane

Photo Credit:

FEMA, Elissa Jun

Photo Credit: Kentucky 

Public Service Commission

Photo Credit:

FEMA
6.2 Transportation Infrastructure

6.2.2. Rail

Freight Rail Bridge in New Orleans Washed 

Out By Flooding

Freight Line Networks Have Little Redundancy. 

Closure of a Single Bridge has National Impact

Repairs of Subway Tunnel in Brooklyn, NY 

After Flooding Damage from Hurricane 

Sandy

Photo Credit:

US DOT - FTA

Photo Credit:

Iowa DOT

Photo Credit:

FEMA, Marvin Nauman
6.2 Transportation Infrastructure

6.2.3. Air

Airports like Chicago O’Hare are Communities

unto themselves with Banks, Restaurants,

Retail Stores and Intermodal Stations

Airports play an integral role in moving 

people and supplies before and after a 

disaster

Photo Credit:

US DOT - FHWA

Photo Credit:

USDOT
6.2 Transportation Infrastructure

6.2.4. Ports, Harbors and Waterways

Inland waterways in the US are relied upon to move large

volumes of bulk cargo. One barge can carry the same

tonnage as 58 tractor trailer trucks.

Ferries provide safe and reliable

transport across bodies of water

where tunnels and bridges are not

available

Shipping containers are displaced by 

high winds and storm surge

Photo Credit: National Surface 

Transportation Policy and Revenue 

Study Commission

Photo Credit:

FTA
6.2 Transportation Infrastructure

6.2.5. Pipelines

Key Lifelines under the U.S. DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 

Administration (PHMSA):

• Pipelines deliver natural gas, crude oil, refined products such as gasoline and 

diesel, and natural gas liquids such as ethane and propane.

Natural gas 

crew shuts off 

gas after 

Hurricane 

Sandy

Fire damage from broken gas

Photo Credit:

FEMA, Liz Roll

Photo Credit: FEMA, 

Christopher Mardorf
6.3 Performance Goals

Set by Transportation Sector Community 

Stakeholder Panel

Transportation Users

commuters, school 

districts, emergency 

response services, local 

businesses, private and 

commercial property 

owners

Transportation 

Owner/Operators

State & City DOT, 

township engineer, 

transit, highway & 

airport authorities, 

Amtrak, freight & 

short line railroads, 

independent taxi, 

bus, marine, airline 

and truck lines

Community 

Stakeholders

owners, engineers, 

planners, 

regulators, codes 

and standards 

officials, and 

representatives of 

other sectors 

(power, comm., 

water/wastewater)
6.3 Performance Goals

Transportation Sector Prioritization

1. Designated Evacuation and Emergency Access Routes

2. Interstate Highways

3. State Highways

4. Numbered County Routes

5. Pipelines (Power and Energy Sector)

6. Pipelines (Serving Community)

7. Subway Mass Transit Systems

8. Large Ferry Terminals

9. Light Rail Systems

10.Regional Commuter Rail Lines

11.National or International Airports

12.Intercity rail such (Amtrak) 

13.Regional Airports

14.Marine Ports

15.Freight Rail Lines

16.Ferry Terminals for Smaller Vessels (water taxi)

Phase 1 

Short Term

Phase 2 

Intermediate

Phase 3

Long Term
6.3 Performance Goals

Example: Routine Hazard Ingress (goods, services, 

disaster relief)
6.3 Performance Goals

Example: Expected Hazard Ingress (goods, 

services, disaster relief)
6.3 Performance Goals

Example: Extreme Hazard Ingress (goods, 

services, disaster relief)
Questions?

Chapter 6

Transportation Sector