| Built Assets \ Climate Change Effects | Rail Tracks (at-grade and embankment construction) |
Rail Tracks (tunnel and trench construction) | Bridge Structures (aerial and major bridge construction) | Station Buildings and Platforms | Storage Facilities for Maintenance Equipment and Vehicles | Electrical Equipment, including Substations | Overhead Power / Catenary Wires | Signaling and Communications | Operational Staff and Passengers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea Level Rise Flooding (permanent inundation) | Permanent inundation - cannot operate. Damage to assets, undermining of foundations, scour | Permanent inundation - cannot operate. Damage to assets undermining of foundations, scour | Destabilization of supporting structures, increased corrosion as a result of increased splash zone. Damage to assets undermining of foundations, scour | Permanent inundation - cannot operate. Damage to assets | Permanent inundation, damage to stored vehicles, inability to access, potential for environmental impacts from mobilization of contaminants | Permanent inundation, destruction of asset, loss of power | Potential destabilization of supporting structures | Potential destabilization of supporting structures | Restrict access, service interruption |
| Coastal Storm Surge Flooding (temporary flooding) | Temporary inundation - cannot operate, damage to assets undermining of foundations, scour | Temporary inundation - cannot operate, damage to assets undermining of foundations, scour | Destabilization of supporting structures, increased corrosion as a result of increased splash zone. Undermining of foundations, scour | Temporary inundation - cannot operate, damage to assets | Temporary inundation, damage to stored vehicles, inability to access, potential for environmental impacts from mobilization of contaminants | Temporary inundation, destruction of asset, loss of power | Potential destabilization of supporting structures | Potential destabilization of supporting structures | Restrict access, service interruption and potential injuries |
| Riverine Flooding | Temporary inundation - cannot operate, undermining of foundations, scour | Temporary inundation - cannot operate, undermining of foundations, scour | Destabilization of supporting structures, potential restriction of access to bridge | Temporary inundation - cannot operate, undermining of foundations, scour | Temporary inundation, damage to stored vehicles, inability to access, potential for environmental impacts from mobilization of contaminants | Temporary inundation, destruction of asset, loss of power | Potential destabilization of supporting structures | Potential destabilization of supporting structures | Restrict access, service interruption and potential injuries |
| Extreme Heat Events | Buckling of track Extreme temperature | Buckling of track (trench construction only) | Increased degradation of materials. Increased temperature causes expansion of concrete joints, protective cladding, coatings and sealants on bridges | Degradation of materials degradation of materials, increased cooling requirements | Degradation of materials | Failure of substations | Degradation of materials, potential failure, 'sagging' | Degradation of materials, potential failure | Heat stress while undertaking work or waiting for and using services. Inability to perform work due to unsafe work conditions |
| Extreme Cold Events (snow /ice) | Snow - access issues, maintenance issues. Track pull-aparts/ breakage, brittle track, ice blocking switches | Snow - access issues, maintenance issues. Track pull-aparts/ breakage, brittle track, ice blocking switches | Access issues and increased degradation of materials | Increased heating costs | Snow - access issues, maintenance issues | Damage to distribution lines | Ice cover leading to sagging/ breaking of lines | Ice cover leading to failure | Exposure of staff while undertaking work or waiting for, or using, services. Inability to perform work due to frozen ground or snow/ice cover |
| Extreme Wind | No material impact | No material impact | Increased risk to rail bridge stability | Direct damage to assets and potential for damage from wind-blown debris | Direct damage to assets and potential for damage from wind-blown debris | Direct damage to assets and potential for damage from wind-blown debris | Direct damage to assets and potential for damage from wind-blown debris | Direct damage to assets and potential for damage from wind-blown debris | Safety risks |
| Increased Ocean Acidity | Increased rate of corrosion of assets exposed to inundation or sea spray | Increased rate of corrosion of assets exposed to inundation or sea spray | Increased rate of corrosion of assets exposed to inundation or sea spray | Increased rate of corrosion of assets exposed to inundation or sea spray | Increased rate of corrosion of assets exposed to inundation or sea spray | Increased rate of corrosion of assets exposed to inundation or sea spray | Increased rate of corrosion of assets exposed to inundation or sea spray | Increased rate of corrosion of assets exposed to inundation or sea spray | No material impact |
Sources: NEC FUTURE team, 2015; Federal Transit Administration. (2011). Flooded Bus Barns and Buckled Rails: Public Transportation and Climate Change Adaptation. Retrieved 2015, from http://www.fta.dot.gov/documents/FTA_0001_-_Flooded_Bus_Barns_and_Buckled_Rails.pdf; Karl, T. M. (2009). Climate Change Impacts in the United States. Retrieved August 15, 2014, from http://www.globalchange.gov/browse/reports/global-climate-change-impacts-united-states; New Jersey Transportation Planning Authority. (2011). Climate Change Vulnerability and Risk Assessment of New Jersey's Transportation Infrastructure. Retrieved from http://www.njtpa.org/Planning/Regional-Studies/Recently-Completed-Studies/Vulnerability-and-Risk-Assessment-of-NJ-Transporta/FHWAConceptualModel/CCVR_REPORT_FINAL_4_2_12_ENTIRE.aspx; Transportation Research Board. (2008). Special Report 290: Potential Impacts of Climate Change on U.S. Transportation. Retrieved 2014 from http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/sr/sr290.pdf; and U.S. Department of Transportation. (2014). Climate Adaptation Plan: Ensuring Transportation Infrastructure and System Resilience. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
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