mapping a resilient future for the massachusetts freight

Mapping a Resilient Future for the

Massachusetts Freight Network

2018 Innovation & Mobility Exchange 2

Today’s Presentation

• Project overview

• Data and methods used

• Exposure and vulnerability of critical freight assets

• Opportunities to enhance the freight network’s resiliency


The Project

Assisting MassDOT to move the immediate strategies

identified in the Massachusetts Freight Plan into

development

1. Climate Change Adaptation (focus of today’s

presentation)

2. Statewide Truck Parking Improvements

3. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) to Support

Freight


Climate Vulnerability Assessment Approach

InvestigateIdentify &

Assess

Prioritize for

Action

Understanding of

baseline and projected

climate conditions

Identifying critical

systems and assets

Determining level of

exposure, sensitivity,

and adaptive capacity

of these systems &

assets due to potential

climate impacts

Setting a stage for

prioritization of

adaptation actions


Data and Methods

• Data Sources• Climate Change Clearinghouse

• MassDOT GIS

• Statewide Modal Plans• Freight

• Rail

• Methods• Compiled all data in one geodatabase using ArcGIS 10.5.1

• Highlighted all critical freight assets

• Applied statewide climate change projections data• Temperature

• Precipitation

• Sea level rise

All data

available

online


What are the Critical Freight Assets?

• Freight rail

• Tracks

• Terminals

• Yards

• Facilities

• Freight truck

• Highways and Bridges

• Warehouses

• Distribution facilities

• Truck stops

• Ports and airport

• Designated hazardous materials routes


Availability of Data

• Data review once in GIS

• Accuracy of data

• Filling data gaps (adding new points)

• Ground truthing to verify and confirm asset data

• Addressing uncertainty

• Uncertainty of some climate projection data (ex:

precipitation, extreme weather events)

• Limitation of data models (ex: inland flood analysis)


Potential Impacts from Rising Temperatures

• Increasing stress on infrastructure (pavement integrity, etc.)

• Damage to roadways due to freeze-thaw cycle

• Overheated trains and electrical equipment

• Buckled rail in extreme heat

• Reduced aircraft performance

• Stress on energy system due to increase in cooling demand for facilities and

warehouses- Increasing risk and frequency of power outages

- Increase costs for energy

• Public health risks & limitations on outdoor services- Heat exposure & heat-related illnesses

- Poor air quality due to increase in warmer temperature and extended heatwaves


Potential Impacts from Changing Frequency

& Intensity of Precipitation

• Weakening of soil and culverts due to driving rains

• Flooded roadways and rail lines due to overwhelmed stormwater/drainage

systems

• Damage and/or obstruction to roadways, rail lines, runways- Power outage, resulting in disruption to electrification of third rail

- Wind and ice damage to infrastructure, facilities, and equipment

- Debris and foreign object damage to infrastructure, facilities, and equipment

• Disruption to airports and ports’ operations, navigation aids, delay of cargo

shipping

• Damages to building envelope, mold exposure


Potential Impacts from Rising Sea Levels

• Sea water corrosion to railways, cables, switches, and signal equipment

• Storm-surge related inundation, damages to roadways, facilities, vehicles,

cargo, and goods

- Damaged or impassible roads, bridges, railways

• Potential reconfiguration of ports and harbors to accommodate higher seas


Projected increase in average temperature (°F) by 2070


Projected increase in total precipitation

volume (inches) by 2070


Projected increase in sea level rise by 2 feet


Recommendations for Enhancing Resiliency

• Conduct more in-depth assessment to prioritize actions for

identified critical assets and infrastructure

• Consider climate vulnerabilities and adaptive capacity as part of

the decision-making process;

• Create a roadmap for climate adaptation and resiliency actions;

• Coordinate resiliency planning efforts with regional agencies,

organizations and/or neighboring states; and

• Revisit climate data and anticipated vulnerabilities regularly.

Van Du | [email protected] | 617.607.1834

Theresa Carr | [email protected] | 617.607.2977

ww

w.v

hb

.co

m

Offices located throughout the east coast


Opportunities for Enhancing Resiliency in the

Draft Freight Plan

Recommended Strategies from the 2017 Draft Freight Plan

Immediate

Strategies

Infrastructure

Improvements

Improve the condition of freight network assets

Build or expand truck stops on primary truck

routes

Upgrade rail lines to the 286k standards

Modernize container terminal facilities

Policies and People Coordinate with freight planning in neighboring

states



Robust Strategies Infrastructure

Improvements

Protect freight facilities from climate change

impacts

Operational Innovations Develop Intelligent Transportation Systems

and Active Transportation and Demand

Management

Hedging and Shaping

Strategies

Infrastructure

Improvements

Build right-sized distribution centers inside

of Route 128

Electrify truck stops

Identify and preserve existing rural and

industrial sites for warehousing and

distribution development


Draft Freight Plan



Hedging and

Shaping Strategies

(cont.)

Infrastructure

Improvements (cont.)

Develop delivery areas in urban districts and

town centers

Encourage increased use of underutilized

gateway infrastructure (ports and airports)

Policies and People Provide collaborative guidance and support

to MPOs and local governments in

integrating freight, distribution and loading

into their planning and zoning and land use

decision-making processes


Draft Freight Plan

mapping a resilient future for the massachusetts freight

Documents