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

CHAPTER 4. DISCUSSION OF FINDINGSBy initiating this preliminary study of climate adaptation 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 with theresearch agenda in a more extensive study.Based on the inventory of ADOT’s existing projects and research on climate change andenvironmental sustainability, followed by the online survey and focus group interviews withADOT staff, several issues emerged that led to recommendations in Chapter 5.SUMMARY FINDINGS – ONLINE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIREThe survey included eight questions. Five questions were multiple choice, and four questionsallowed the opportunity for respondents to elaborate on their answers with an open-endedresponse portion. One question asked only for open-ended feedback, and two questions collecteddemographic information in text fields.Major summary findings are summarized below: Climate change is affecting ADOT operations. The majority of people (56 percent ofrespondents) believe that climate change is affecting ADOT operations, and 50 percent ofrespondents believe that ADOT should have a role in planning for climate change. ADOT employees address a variety of time horizons in their jobs. Question 4 askedhow far into the future respondents look to make their decisions; 36 percent of responseswere “short term” (less than one year), 35 percent were “mid term” (one to five years),23 percent were long term (more than five years), and 6 percent were “Other”. 1 Most of the identified climate impacts are seen as relevant to employees’ jobfunctions. Question 5 displayed a list of potential climate change impacts including heateffects, such as highway asphalt rutting, early snowmelt that could increase the risk offloods, and many others. The respondents were asked to indicate whether each of thesenine impacts was relevant to performing their current job. The climate impacts thatreceived the most “relevant” responses were intense precipitation (79 percent ofresponses were relevant), heat (69 percent of responses were relevant), and wildfires(66 percent of responses were relevant). Respondents had a lot to say about specific climate effects and tools, data, andguidance needs. Two open-ended questions received many responses: 1) Question 5B,which asked people to elaborate on any “relevant” responses from the climate changeeffect matrix, or describe any other potential climate impacts that might affect your job;and 2) Question 7, “What tools, data, guidance, or other resources related to extremeweather or climate change do you wish you had to help inform your decision-makingactivities?” Highlights from the climate change effects question include a concern abouthow particular effects, such as how heat affects humans (road workers, etc.);maintenance-related concerns, such as potholes, wildfire, and precipitation effects; andindirect effects, such as financial effects.1 For this question, respondents were allowed to select more than one response.33