This document summarizes a project to assess the vulnerability of Rhode Island's transportation assets to sea level rise. It developed methods to rank roads, public transportation routes, and bridges based on their exposure to flooding from 1 foot, 3 feet, and 5 feet of sea level rise. The top 10 most vulnerable state-owned roads, RIPTA bus routes, and bridges were identified. Adaptation strategies such as protecting, accommodating, and retreating from vulnerable assets were also discussed. The project aims to help prioritize spending, planning, and goal-setting to enhance resilience of transportation infrastructure.

1. SEA LEVEL RISE: TRANSPORTATION ASSET VULNERABILITY
Chris Witt, acting Supervising Planner RI Statewide Planning Program

2. •Provide an overview for state, local staff, and the public of the exposure of our transportation assets to sea level rise inundation
•Provide transportation stakeholders with best estimation of the exposure of specific roads
Project Objectives
•Develop desktop vulnerability method for ranking adaptation priorities
•ID state transportation assets at highest risk

3. Sea Level Rise Scenarios
3 Feet
1 Foot
5 Feet
DATA SOURCES
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Univ. of Rhode Island Environmental Data Center
METHOD
“Bathtub” model Vertical increase in sea level rise over existing terrain

4. Mapping

5. Vulnerability
Likelihood and magnitude of hazard
Social or transportation impact of hazard occurring
+

6. Social / transportation impact
Likelihood & magnitude of hazard
Vulnerability
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
6
2
3
4
5
6
7
3
4
5
6
7
8
4
5
6
7
8
9
5
6
7
8
9
10

7. Vulnerability Index: Basic Elements
Indicators
Scoring and weighting system
Gut check
Magnitude/urgency of physical hazard
Magnitude of social/transportation impact

8. For example…
Physical Impact Indicators
•Length/area flooded
•How soon asset will flood
•Age of infrastructure
•Elevation of infrastructure
•Condition of infrastructure
Social and Transportation Indicators
•Use level
•Capacity
•Existence of alternatives

9. Transportation categories
Roads
RIPTA Bus
Bridges
Bicycle
Intermodal
Rail
Ports and Harbors
Airports

10. Roads Vulnerability Index
Indicator
Type
Weight
Scoring
SLR Zone
Hazard
0.3
1 foot = 10, 3 feet = 6, 5 foot = 2
1 ft. Inundation
Hazard
0.1
0-15 feet = 3, 15-100 feet = 7, 100+ feet = 10
3 ft. Inundation
Hazard
0.1
0-100 feet = 3, 100-800 feet = 7, 800+ feet = 10
5 ft. Inundation
Hazard
0.1
0-500 feet = 3, 500-1500 feet = 7, 1500+ feet = 10
Functional Class
Social Impact
0.3
See table
Evacuation Route
Social Impact
0.1
Yes = 10, No = 0

11. Roads Vulnerability Findings
Top 10 State-Owned or Maintained Road Segments Most Vulnerable to Sea Level Rise
Rank
Road Name
Municipality
Feet of SLR When Any Part of Road Segment Floods
Functional Classification
Hurricane Evacuation Route
Linear Feet Flooded at:
Vulnerability Index Score
1ft SLR
3ft SLR
5ft SLR
1
County Rd (103)
Barrington
1
Principal Art.
Yes
31
248
2888
8.8
2
Main St
Warren
1
Principal Art.
Yes
25
318
883
8.1
2
Child St
Warren
1
Principal Art.
Yes
13
283
1179
8.1
4
Massasoit Ave
Barrington
1
Minor Art.
Yes
15
59
630
7.5
5
Wampanoag Trail (114)
Barrington
3
Principal Art., Urban Non Classified
Yes
0
141
6368
7.3
6
Old Main Rd*
Tiverton
1
Collector
Yes
150
834
953
7.2
7
Hope St
Bristol
3
Principal Art.
Yes
0
583
2021
6.9
8
Market St
Warren
3
Principal Art., Minor Art.
Yes
0
1129
2164
6.7
9
Ocean Ave
New Shoreham
1
Minor Art., Rural Non Classified
No
14
1007
2962
6.6
9
Phillips St
N. Kingstown
3
Principal Art.
Yes
0
209
583
6.6

12. RIPTA Route Vulnerability Index
Indicator
Type
Weight
Scoring
Frequency
Social Impact
0.15
Under 50 = 0, 50-250 = 2, 250-400 = 6, 400+ = 10
Ridership
Social Impact
0.2
Under 20,000 = 0, 20-100,000 = 2, 100K-200K = 6, 200K+ = 10
SLR Zone
Hazard
0.2
1 foot = 10, 3 feet = 6, 5 foot = 2
Stops Flooded 3 ft.
Hazard
0.15
0 = 0, 1 stop = 2, 2 stops = 4, 5 stops = 10
Stops Flooded 5 ft.
Hazard
0.15
0 stops = 0, 1 stop = 2, 4-5 stops = 4, 6-7 stops = 6, 8-20 stops = 8, 20+ stops = 10
5 ft. Inundation
Hazard
0.15
0-2,000 feet = 3; 2,000-8,000 feet = 7, 8,000+ feet = 10

13. RIPTA Route Vulnerability Findings
Top 11 RIPTA Routes Most Vulnerable to Sea Level Rise
Rank
#
Name
Ridership - Weekly
Frequency - Weekly Trips
SLR Scenario When Route First Impacted
Stops Flooded at 3 ft SLR
Stops Flooded at 5 ft SLR
Length Flooded at 5 ft
Vulnerability Index Score
1
60
PROVIDENCE/NEWPORT
332,983
551
1
5
33
15,918
10.0
2
66
URI/GALILEE
192,375
278
3
1
6
7,561
5.6
3
14
WEST BAY
85,518
190
3
2
9
8,660
5.2
4
33
RIVERSIDE
158,398
404
3
0
4
1,485
4.5
5
64
NEWPORT/URI
41,475
118
3
0
7
6,430
3.9
5
65
WAKEFIELD EXPRESS
28,935
55
3
1
4
5,605
3.9
7
3
WARWICK AVE
148,719
399
3
0
0
1,195
3.8
8
67
BELLEVUE MANSION/SALVE REGINS
54,220
514
5
0
1
2,576
3.7
9
1
EDDY ST
197,685
516
5
0
0
801
3.6
10
32
EAST PROVIDENCE/WAMPANOAG
24,958
189
3
0
4
1,485
3.0
10
34
EAST PROVIDENCE
55,565
209
3
0
4
1,485
3.0

14. Bridge Vulnerability Index
Indicator*
Type
Weight
Scoring
Freeboard
Hazard
0.25
Freeboard problem or unknown = 10; No problem = 0
Access
Hazard
0.2
Access problem = 10; no problem = 0
Height of freeboard
Hazard
0.1
less than 40" = 10; 41-75“ = 6; more than 75" = 2
Over MHHW
Hazard
0.2
Yes = 10; No = 0
Carries road facility
Social Impact
0
Carries road facility = 10; other = 0
AADT
Social Impact
0.25
0-1 = 0, 2-5000 = 3, 5000-15000 = 7, 15000+ = 10

15. Bridge Vulnerability Findings
Top 10 State-Owned Bridges Most Vulnerable to Sea Level Rise
Bridge Name
Town
Facility
Feature Intersected
Year Built
AADT
Inches of Freeboard4
Currently over tidal water?
Access Problem
Vulnerability Index Score
Barrington
Barrington
RI 114/103 CNTY RD
Barrington River
2009
26,000
74
Y
problem
9.6
Warren
Barrington
RI 114/103 CNTY RD
Warren River
1914
19,900
98
Y
problem
9
C.L. Hussey Memorial
North Kingstown
US 1A BSTN NCK RD
Wickford Cove
1925
9,100
48
Y
problem
8.85
Wickford
North Kingstown
US 1A Bstn Nck Rd
Academy Cove
1951
9,100
61
Y
problem
8.85
New Harbor Road
New Shoreham
Ocean Av
Trimms Pond
1925
7,000
70
Y
problem
8.85
New Shoreham
New Shoreham
Beach Av
Harbor Pond
1997
7,000
73
Y
problem
8.85
Barrington Parkway
East Providence
Veterans Mem Pkwy
Watchemoket Cove
1973
12,700
80
Y
problem
8.25
Bridgetown
Narragansett
Bridgetown Rd
Pettaquamscutt River
1934
9,800
86
Y
problem
8.25
Central
Barrington
Massasoit Av
Barrington River
1940
8,800
99
Y
problem
8.25
Silver Creek
Bristol
RI 114 Hope St
Tidal Inlet
1922
18,200
20
N
problem
8

16. General Adaptation Strategies
PROTECT
ACCOMODATE
RETREAT
DO NOTHING
Armor
Enhance natural protections
Accommodate in place
Realignment

17. How to Use Project Findings
Spending
•Asset management
•Project selection (TIP or CIP)
•Construction contracts
Planning
•Hazard mitigation plans
•Long range transportation plan
•Local comprehensive plans
Goal-setting
•MAP-21 performance measures
•Other performance management

18. Questions and Discussion