Adaptation & Resiliency Toolbox
Steps to Resilience
The ARToolbox, adapted from the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit framework and other state DOTs across the country, is a guide to understand hazards facing MDOT MTA assets, assess vulnerability and risk, and identify potential adaptation measures that may be implemented at vulnerable assets. Click on any step below to learn more.
Explore Hazards
Assess Vulnerability & Risk
Prioritize & Plan
Explore Hazards
MDOT MTA completed a vulnerability assessment and compiled data utilized into a GIS Mapping Tool. The Tool includes assets coupled with extreme weather events to assist in determining vulnerability. Learn more about hazards included in the assessment below, or visit the mapping tool to view assets and hazards.
Hurricane Storm Surge
Sea levels are rising as a result of global warming, and in turn, storm surges are getting boosted, and coastal flood risks are increasing. A changing climate can worsen storm surge through its impact on storm intensity, size, and "steering". Bigger, stronger storms can push waves further onshore. MDOT MTA's vulnerability assessment evaluates Category 1-4 Hurricane Storm Surge to determine which assets are vulnerable to this hazard.
Floodplains
Floods bring destruction to every state and nearly every county, and in many areas, they are getting worse. As global warming continues to exacerbate sea level rise and extreme weather, floodplains are expected to grow. MDOT MTA's vulnerability assessment evaluates both 100-Year and 500-Year FEMA designated floodplains in the context of our assets.
Mean Sea Level Rise
Mean sea level is rising due to melting glaciers and ice sheets adding water to the ocean. Sea level is also rising due to the volume of the ocean expanding as the water warms. Railways and subways are subject to inundation from sea level rise and storm surges. This is particularly true in underground pathways and tunnels, which are often already below sea level. MDOT MTA's vulnerability assessment evaluates sea level rise for the 2015, 2050, and 2100 timeframes.
Extreme Temperatures
High temperatures cause rail tracks to expand and buckle. More frequent and severe heat waves may require track repairs or speed restrictions to avoid derailments. MDOT MTA is currently assessing extreme temperatures based on the best available data to include in the vulnerability determination of our assets.
Urban Heat Islands (UHI)
In general, cities such as Baltimore City, Maryland are warmer than rural areas because asphalt, concrete, steel, and bricks absorb sunlight and release heat back into the atmosphere resulting in “Urban Heat Islands (UHI).” According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), UHIs occur when cities replace natural land cover with dense concentrations of pavement, buildings, and other surfaces that absorb and retain heat. This effect increases energy costs (e.g., for air conditioning), air pollution levels, and heat-related illness and mortality. Given the extent and possibility of our assets and customers located within UHIs, MDOT MTA is currently evaluating UHIs and incorporating data into the overall resiliency assessment.
Assess Vulnerability & Risk
Assessing vulnerability begins with the identification of existing stressors facing transportation systems and projects how climate change will impact and/or introduce new stressors in the future. The findings of a vulnerability assessment can then be ranked to assess, prioritize and address vulnerabilities.
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Assessing risk involves evaluating the likelihood and consequence of climate-related impacts on transportation. Many times this assessment will quantify the product of the probabilities of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. This assessment provides transportation policymakers with guidance based on quantitative analysis of the level of risk associated with changing climate conditions. Risk assessments are often conducted with the assistance of agency personnel most familiar with vulnerable sites through workshops and consultation. Risk is determined by "likelihood" and "consequence" which are defined as the following:
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Likelihood – Possibility that a sensitive location/asset would be impacted from a climate change scenario
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Consequence – Rating based on a set of potential consequences (costs, service interruption, reputation/image of MDOT MTA) to an impacted vulnerable site
The MDOT MTA Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment incorporates a risk assessment of each of the identified vulnerable locations and assets and determines which sites are high priorities and most at risk of being impacted due to a changing climate, consequently impacting the continual provision of MDOT MTA's services.
Investigate Options
Adaptation measures should be considered for all MDOT MTA assets identified as “high” or “very high” risk​​​​​​​. A variety of options may be suitable at a given asset location - a single adaptation measure will not effectively reduce climate change risk in every vulnerable location. Therefore, all types of solutions (long, mid, and short-term solutions) should be reviewed for applicability. In general, long-term solutions are considered to take the longest time/cost to implement, whereas short-term solutions are considered to be the shortest time/least expensive.
Long-Term Solutions require the highest level of planning and design for implementation.
Mid-Term Solutions require some level of design, approvals, etc.
Short-Term Solutions are considered relatively easy to implement and little to no design efforts required.
MDOT MTA's ARToolbox includes a variety of potential adaptation/resiliency measures in the long-,mid-, and short-term timeframes that may be employed at assets classified as "high" or "very high risk." Measures can be viewed by mode/division or by solution.
There are some general considerations and clauses that apply for all adaptation measures included in MDOT MTA's ARToolbox:
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The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) permitting and review/approval by MDOT MTA Environmental Planning Division may be required
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​​​​​​​All adaptation measures have advantages and disadvantages - There is no "one size fits all" approach
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MDOT MTA Asset Management and Environmental Planning Divisions should be consulted while implementing adaptation measures
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The implementation of each measure is dependent on specific sites and the designs/products used. The information contained within the toolbox cannot account for all scenarios and/or site conditions
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Some of the identified measures include proprietary products, which are useful, but their use may create challenges in procuring replacement parts
Prioritize & Plan
MDOT MTA's Environmental Planning Division reviews data and information from a variety of sources to effectively prioritize and plan the agency's resiliency efforts. Several of the methods employed to prioritize and plan are described below.​
Capital Needs Inventory (CNI)
MDOT MTA’s CNI presents information from MDOT MTA’s ongoing asset management analyses and needs inventory, and supports improved decision making regarding the maintenance and enhancements required to keep the overall transit system in a state of good repair and meet service demands over the long term. Reviewing data across all modes with assets identified as "very high" and "high" risk helps formulate options for planning efforts relating to resiliency.
Pilot Project Implementation
MDOT MTA, through coordination with our modes/divisions, identifies pilot projects to implement as "stand alone" resiliency efforts, funded through available grant programs available for resiliency planning, design, and ultimate construction. To learn more about available funding options, review available funding options found in the ARToolbox.
