Climate Resilient Transportation Infrastructure Study Act

Climate Resilient Transportation Infrastructure Study Act

This bill requires the Department of Transportation to enter into an agreement with the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies to conduct a study of the actions needed to ensure that federal agencies are taking into account current and future climate conditions in planning, designing, building, operating, maintaining, investing in, and upgrading any federally funded transportation infrastructure investments.

Bill 117 HR 740, also known as the Climate Resilient Transportation Infrastructure Study Act, was introduced in the US Congress with the aim of studying the impact of climate change on transportation infrastructure in the United States. The bill seeks to assess the vulnerabilities of transportation systems to extreme weather events and other climate-related challenges, and to develop strategies for making these systems more resilient.

The bill calls for the establishment of a task force composed of representatives from federal agencies, state and local governments, and other stakeholders to conduct the study. The task force would be responsible for identifying key areas of concern, such as the susceptibility of roads, bridges, and other infrastructure to flooding, erosion, and other climate-related hazards. The task force would also be tasked with developing recommendations for improving the resilience of transportation systems, including the use of new technologies, materials, and design practices.

The bill emphasizes the importance of considering the needs of vulnerable populations, such as low-income communities and communities of color, in the development of resilience strategies. It also highlights the economic benefits of investing in climate-resilient transportation infrastructure, such as reducing the costs of repairs and disruptions caused by extreme weather events. Overall, Bill 117 HR 740 aims to address the growing threat of climate change to transportation infrastructure in the United States by conducting a comprehensive study and developing actionable recommendations for improving resilience.