Research Idea Details

Research Idea Scope

TERI Administrator Note (May 2011): Similar research under SHRP C09 project has addressed this issue. (http://144.171.11.40/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=2348)

Problem
Numerous organizations at the federal, state, and local level have a stake in developing strategies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate changes. These organizations need to have supportive policies and collaborative approaches to improve their effectiveness in developing and implementing climate change strategies. There is a need to communicate, cooperate, and collaborate in efforts so that they are not duplicative or counterproductive.
 
Objective
This project will develop a greater understanding of decision-making and policy processes related to climate change and long range planning within the transportation sector. The project will consider key decision points for developing strategies and addressing critical mitigation and adaptation issues within a Collaborative Decision-Making Framework. It will develop a variety of concepts or constructs that would support federal, state, and local agencies working together to assure that each had appropriate input into policy development, and alternative strategies to mitigate climate change and adapt to any changes linked to multimodal, multi jurisdictional, and multi sector issues (including multi-modal travel and goods movement). This may include assessing the potential for interagency cooperation and analyzing societal trends toward a preference for more sustainable and environmentally friendly development practices. It will identify materials already produced in the planning process and develop new materials to fill gaps.
 
This project will be informed by the results of SHRP2 C01 and SHRP2 C09. Project C01 resulted in the development of a Collaborative Decision-Making Framework for the transportation planning and project development process, which has been posted online as a tool for state DOT and MPO staff to access and use. The final tool is called “Transportation for Communities-Advancing Projects through Partnerships”. Project CO9 attempts to determine how the consideration of greenhouse gas emissions is, or could be, integrated into traditional transportation planning and project development processes. This research proposal builds on both of these projects, but the main difference is that the primary focus of this research will be the development of a CDMF for climate change decision-making at the federal, state, and local levels, with transportation issues and impacts considered as part of that framework.
 
Urgency/PriorityIt is important to establish institutional cooperative and collaborative strategies so that the funds and efforts of federal, state, and local agencies are not wasted or are advancing counterproductive strategies to mitigate climate changes and strategies to adapt to climate changes.

Urgency and Payoff

Implementation
The results of this project could be used to improve institutional communication and collaborative efforts to address climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies and make the efforts of these agencies most cost effective.
 
EffectivenessThe results of this project could reduce the cost of efforts to mitigate climate changes and strategies to adapt to these changes. It could reduce the staff hours and increase the effectiveness of various agencies efforts by reducing duplication and increasing effectiveness by integrating the efforts of these various agencies.