SPR-696: Preliminary Study of Climate Adaptation for the Statewide ...

finally summarized the findings. As discussed in the research approach, the ADOT effortinvolves four main work tasks, as illustrated in Figure 2, culminatingin a set of findings andrecommendations forfurther research or action.Source: Cambridge Systematics, Inc., 2012.Figure 2. ADOT Climate Adaptationn Study Research PlanPRINCIPAL FINDINGSBy initiating this preliminary study of climate adaptationn for the statewide transportation systemin Arizona, there is already an internal interest and momentum at ADOT for climate adaptationplanning. Without institutional support, however, it will be difficult to continue forward withtheresearch agenda in a more extensive study.Starting with the inventory of ADOT’s existing projectss and research on climatechange andenvironmental sustainability, followed by theonline survey and focus group interviews withADOT staff, the study has identified some overarching institutional constraints and impedimentsto implementing climate adaptation planningbeyond the preliminaryassessment. These includethe following: ADOT does not have an overall set of clear, concise goals forr its planning activitiesrelated to climate change, risk assessment, or adaptation. This is a nascent field thatrequires new thinking, new approaches, and interdisciplinarydepartmental support. Thispreliminary assessment helps identifygaps and introduces some areas forfurtherresearch; but without management support, it will be difficultt to implement elementsof aclimate adaptation plan. The proposeddevelopment of a department-wide climateadaptation plan framework would remedy this mpediment. The recent reorganizationn of ADOT managementt may have clarified whowithin thesenior management couldhave responsibility for such an effort; however, it has not beenapparent in the analysis of the ADOTorganizational structurefrom the perspective of the6