FOCUS AREAS
SUSTAINABILITY & RESILIENCY
DRAFT
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Transportation infrastructure plays a key role in shaping the resiliency and sustainability of our communities. Roads, highways, bridges, and transit systems can strengthen connectivity and local economies, but they also have a lasting impact on ecosystems, landscapes, and cultural heritage. The Tri-County region contains a unique blend of urban centers, important transportation corridors, and rural communities. We also have a vast array of natural and cultural resources, including the Susquehanna River, the Appalachian Trail, state forests/parks/game lands, local historic communities, prime agricultural soils, and much more. Without thoughtful and collaborative planning between transportation and our natural and cultural resources, transportation developments may disrupt historic neighborhoods and natural areas that are
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essential to community identity and environmental health. By prioritizing sustainable and resilient transportation improvements, as well as engaging our local municipalities, we can ensure that growth supports long-term well-being while preserving the natural and cultural resources that make our region unique.
CONDITIONS
EXISTING NATURAL & CULTURAL RESOURCES —
The following maps show the natural and cultural resources present in the HATS region. These resources are divided into four groups – Terrestrial resources, Aquatic resources, Waste sites, and Cultural & Historical Resources - which were also used in the potential impact analysis completed for the HATS 2050 RTP and discussed in the Environmental Mitigation chapter. HATS staff presented an overview of these resources (and the potential impact analysis) at a PennDOT Agency Coordination Meeting as part of the plan development process. A complete listing of the resources, and links to the data sources, is available here.
To view the existing natural and cultural resources on the interactive mapping application, click on the images below.
PENNDOT EXTREME WEATHER VULNERABILITY STUDY —
PennDOT’s Extreme Weather Vulnerability Study was intended to assess the resilience of Pennsylvania’s state-owned transportation infrastructure to extreme weather events and other climate-induced hazards, specifically flooding. The scores were determined by assessing precipitation, floodplains, pavement conditions, bridge scour, deficient pipes, traffic volumes, and road classifications. Recently, climate patterns have been shifting the lifecycle of transportation infrastructure, resulting in higher maintenance costs and degrading, sometimes dangerous, transportation systems. By assigning risk scores to state-owned roadways and bridges, infrastructure resiliency and sustainability can be improved because planning efforts can be informed, and investments can be prioritized.
To view the PennDOT Extreme Weather Vulnerability data, click here for the interactive mapping application.
FEMA COMMUNITY RESILIENCE STUDY —
Community resilience describes a community’s ability to prepare for, adapt to, and recover from natural hazards and extreme weather events. FEMA’s Community Resilience scoring system was intended to measure how well a community is able to adapt and recover from
these extreme weather events. The Community Resilience study was designed as part of the National Risk Index, which outlines a community’s susceptibility to 18 different natural hazards. The higher the Community Resilience score, the lower the Risk Index score, and the better prepared a community is to bounce back from a natural disaster. The Community Resilience Score, as well as the National Risk Index, were intended to help communities understand how prepared, or unprepared, they are to respond to natural disasters and to guide planning efforts and prioritize investments to build safer and more resilient communities.
To view the FEMA Community Resiliency data, click here form the interactive mapping application.
ISSUES
REGIONAL IMPACTS ON NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES —
Our region remains an important location when it comes to convenient access to many major transportation corridors in south-central Pennsylvania. Unsurprisingly, this has led to growing transportation infrastructure and improvements. Regional transportation systems, such as roads, highways, and bridges, can significantly impact natural and cultural resources. Expanding infrastructure often leads to habitat fragmentation, changes in water flow, and increased pollution, resulting in the degradation of local ecosystems. Also, transportation projects may alter or displace historic sites or cultural landmarks that are integral to a community’s character. Coordinating planning efforts between transportation improvement projects and environmental resources will balance the needs between the two. Early identification of potential resource impacts and coordination efforts will give us the best chance at minimizing potential negative impacts on our natural and cultural resources. Ultimately, this will lead to more resilient and sustainable communities, while also retaining the character that makes our communities unique.
VULNERABILITY TO EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS —
Planning for community vulnerability and resiliency to extreme weather events is essential to protect lives, infrastructure, and local economies. As storms, flooding, and heatwaves become more frequent and intense, transportation systems such as roads, bridges, and sidewalks face increased risk of damage and disruption. These networks are critical for everyday mobility and access to services as well as for emergency response purposes, including the response necessary for extreme weather events. By integrating extreme weather considerations and design into long-range transportation planning, regional communities can strengthen their ability to withstand and recover from disasters, reduce long-term infrastructure maintenance costs, and ensure connectivity for everyone.
FRAGMENTED AND UNCOORDINATED MITIGATION EFFORTS —
The transportation systems within our region are complex and interconnected. Uncoordinated planning in one area can cause disruptions or inefficiencies in another, reducing overall system resilience and sustainability. When planning and mitigation efforts between transportation and the environment are fragmented and uncoordinated, the result may be inefficiency and redundancy. Different agencies may duplicate efforts or work at cross purposes. This leads to a waste of resources, time, and funding, while potentially overlooking critical areas altogether. When planning for sustainable and resilient communities, it is important to coordinate planning and mitigation efforts to encourage integrated solutions among interests and communities. Collaborating amongst regional stakeholders, various government agencies, and local municipalities is vital for integrated planning and mitigation efforts. Establishing regional sustainability and resiliency goals amongst planning partners helps create more cohesive and unified transportation systems that are better prepared for the unknowns of the future.
ACTIONS
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Develop transportation projects that avoid or minimize impacts on environmental and cultural resources and maximize community resiliency
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Improve coordination between PennDOT, regulatory agencies, and other regional stakeholders to ensure resources are accurately inventoried, mapped, and considered in the project development process
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Utilize RTP environmental impact analysis to identify potential impacts as part of the PennDOT Connects program
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Complement existing environmental mitigation efforts by implementing strategies identified for specific resource impacts