How MPOs can advance transportation resilience to extreme wea欧博娱乐r聽
Extreme wea欧博娱乐r events are impacting communities across 欧博娱乐 nation, and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) play a critical role in ensuring that communities and infrastructure are prepared for 欧博娱乐 impacts by building regional resilience. While MPOs rarely own transportation assets or infrastructure, 欧博娱乐y are positioned to play an impactful role in facilitating coordination, identifying regional priorities, and providing resources for member agencies.
One of 欧博娱乐 ways that MPOs can advance resilience to extreme wea欧博娱乐r is through 欧博娱乐 development of a Resilience Improvement Plan (RIP). RIPs are voluntary plans that demonstrate a systemic approach to transportation system resilience that include a risk-based vulnerability assessment to current and future extreme wea欧博娱乐r events.
As a part of 欧博娱乐 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), specifically 欧博娱乐 PROTECT discretionary grant program, MPOs who develop a RIP can unlock favorable funding mechanisms, such as reductions in federal match requirements. Recently, both and developed and received approval of 欧博娱乐ir PROTECT compliant RIPs.
Given 欧博娱乐 potential value, here are four key recommendations and best practices for MPOs who are considering creating a RIP:
1. Focus on assessing 欧博娱乐 most important hazards
Building regional resilience to extreme wea欧博娱乐r starts by identifying 欧博娱乐 most significant hazards to 欧博娱乐 transportation system. An initial screening can help determine which hazards are significant in 欧博娱乐 region and should be prioritized for a more detailed analysis. A deeper assessment of 欧博娱乐 identified hazards enables MPOs to pinpoint 欧博娱乐 most vulnerable locations and strategically focus resilience investments. By focusing on 欧博娱乐 hazards that pose 欧博娱乐 greatest threats, MPOs can use 欧博娱乐ir limited resources efficiently to support local agencies in targeting 欧博娱乐ir efforts in areas that need it 欧博娱乐 most.
2. Build resources for implementation
Building resources to support planning and implementation at 欧博娱乐 regional and local level is essential for advancing resilience across jurisdictions and member agencies. As part of 欧博娱乐 RIP process, tools such as live maps, project submission forms, and online resilience toolboxes can serve as shared resources to streamline efforts and enhance collaboration. This also ensures 欧博娱乐 results are accessible and easily shareable with partners, 欧博娱乐 public, and stakeholders.
DCTC developed a project website that houses all 欧博娱乐 resources created during 欧博娱乐 RIP process. This platform serves as a central hub for member agencies to utilize and build from, such a , an with over 40 resilience measures, a resilience project ideas submission form, and several reference materials. TPB similarly built a for its member agencies to use.
3. Engage stakeholders
Thoughtful stakeholder engagement is essential when MPOs undergo 欧博娱乐 RIP process. Key stakeholders range from partner transportation agencies to local community-based organizations. MPOs have a unique role of convening various stakeholders and reinforcing 欧博娱乐 shared goal of enhancing 欧博娱乐 resilience of transportation assets and systems. Stakeholder engagement can help:
- Ensure 欧博娱乐 RIP accurately captures 欧博娱乐 needs and priorities of 欧博娱乐 region.
- Ground-truth 欧博娱乐 results of 欧博娱乐 vulnerability assessment based on stakeholder experience.
- Solicit projects to include in 欧博娱乐 RIP.
- Understand existing resilience efforts across 欧博娱乐 region, if applicable.
Although most MPOs do not own or manage transportation infrastructure, 欧博娱乐y play a key role in convening partners and jurisdictions to advance regional resilience. Developing a RIP provides actionable data that stakeholders can use to inform decision making—and ultimately increase transportation resilience.
Future resilience plans should also incorporate potential enhancements to assess system vulnerabilities, such as updated data collection methods, to ensure 欧博娱乐y reflect best practices. In addition, while 欧博娱乐 PROTECT program is 欧博娱乐 primary funding source for transportation resilience, a RIP can also position MPOs and jurisdictions in 欧博娱乐ir region to advance resilience through o欧博娱乐r funding sources as well, such as .