Thanks for your interest in Reaching Resilience 2050, our Q&A series fleshing out the people and processes behind our latest long-range transportation plan. To read the plan in full, explore potential projects near you and learn how to share your feedback, please visit publicinput.com/Resilience2050.

Eileen Singleton is a Principal Transportation Engineer for Baltimore Metropolitan Council.

Hi Eileen! Let's dive in. Please tell us a bit about you and your work.

I’m a civil engineer, and when I joined BMC in 1998, I was hired to work on projects related to planning for intelligent transportation systems, or ITS. ITS projects use technology and interagency communications to improve how the transportation network operates. One example is the use of cameras and sensors to “see” traffic, and, using web and phone applications, to let travelers and operators know what’s going on. Another example is providing real time arrival information to transit riders. Climate resilience was not an explicit focus of my work back then but the resilience of the transportation network was certainly enhanced by the use of ITS, allowing the most people to use these facilities without building capacity and providing awareness of conditions to system operators and travelers. Over the last several years, my work expanded to include climate resilience explicitly, and we’ve developed documents to support climate resilience preparedness in departments of public works (DPWs) and transportation (DOTs): Climate Change Resource Guide and Climate Resilience Guidance for Local Jurisdictions. 

Wow! This type of work is more urgent than ever. How does it fit into the preparation of Resilience 2050?

The Climate Change Resource Guide includes a chapter on historical climate trends and climate projections for the region. The information from this chapter was incorporated into the climate resilience chapter of Resilience 2050. And much of the Climate Change and Resilience White Paper developed for Resilience 2050 is taken from that Guide. The Guide also includes examples of climate adaptation strategies that can be used to reduce the impacts of climate change on DOT and DPW resources. Considerations of equity have been incorporated throughout Resilience 2050, and it is especially important to consider climate resilience of populations that have traditionally felt more of the burden of climate change impacts, including people of color, those who are low-income or have disabilities, children, and the elderly.

Speak on it! And who are the key partners you engage in this effort?

The target audience for the two climate projects is local DPWs and DOTs. In addition to staff from these agencies, we had participation by local staff members from planning and sustainability offices as well as state and federal partners. Each project had a steering committee that met with the consultant team several times to provide input on the documents. These partners also reviewed drafts of all documents and attended smaller topic-focused meetings with the consultant team. The Climate Resilience for Local Jurisdictions project also included three workshops – focused on transportation, water, and stormwater – and an even wider range of partners attended those to ensure our work is coordinated across agencies and levels of government. As local DPWs and DOTs incorporate resilience strategies, they will include a wider range of stakeholders from within their jurisdictions as well as from their communities

Speaking of, what key highlights do you hope folks take away?

A few things come to mind: 

• The climate of our region has been changing (refer to Chapter 2 of the Climate Change Resource Guide). Annual average temperature has been increasing over the last century and there is a clear upward trend. Also, sea levels in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries have been rising, leading to significant increases in “nuisance flooding” (i.e., flooding from high tides even during sunny days).
• Our local DPWs and DOTs have been seeing and responding to impacts from the changing climate (refer to Chapter 3 of the Climate Change Resource Guide).
• Climate change impacts have been felt disproportionately by vulnerable populations, including people of color, those who are low-income or have disabilities, children, and the elderly.
• Temperatures are projected to increase dramatically in our region in the coming decades (refer to Chapter 2 of the Climate Change Resource Guide).
• Total precipitation is not projected to increase that much overall but we will continue to experience more extreme precipitation events, like the major floods in Old Ellicott City in 2016 and 2018 (refer to Chapter 2 of the Climate Change Resource Guide).
• These changes have and will continue to directly impact our transportation network. Our DPWs and DOTs must continue to incorporate these changes into their plans, projects, and programs so our transportation network remains as resilient as possible and all of us can travel as safely and efficiently as possible.

Thanks. Lastly, how can folks learn more and stay involved?

If you’d like to learn more about our climate resilience work, you can check out our recent Climate Change Resource Guide and Climate Resilience Guidance for Local Jurisdictions. Chapter 2 of the Climate Change Resource Guide has an overview of how our region’s climate has changed and how it is projected to change between now and 2100. The Climate Change and Resilience White Paper also outlines some of the key topics from the Climate Change Resource Guide

That's all from Eileen, but check out our other Reaching Resilience 2050 entries on Air Quality, Project Implementation and Safety. To learn more about our Resilience 2050 long-range transportation plan, please visit publicinput.com/Resilience2050.

Thanks for your interest in Reaching Resilience 2050, our Q&A series fleshing out the people and processes behind our latest long-range transportation plan. To read the plan in full, explore potential projects near you and learn how to share your feedback, please visit publicinput.com/Resilience2050.

Anna Marshall is an Environmental Planner for Baltimore Metropolitan Council.

Hi Anna! First thing first, tell us about you and your work.

I serve as the environmental planner with a main focus on air quality. I lead the air quality conformity process, which is a federally required process under the Clean Air Act, as well as monitor and research new policies and goals from federal agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or major pollutants. I also work at Clean Air Partners, which is a non-profit serving residents in the D.C. and Baltimore metro region about air quality, how ozone is created and how people can help reduce emissions. 

Nice! Folks might recognize Clean Air Partners content from our social media channels. How does this work fit into the preparation of Resilience 2050?

The air quality conformity process is an integral component of Resilience 2050. Unfortunately, the Baltimore region does not yet meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, or NAAQS, for ground-level ozone. As a result, the EPA has classified the region as a moderate nonattainment area for the 2015 8-hour ozone standard, which is 70 parts per billion (ppb). Because of this classification, we need to complete the air quality conformity determination process to demonstrate that the transportation projects detailed in Resilience 2050 will not cause new air quality violations, worsen existing violations or delay timely attainment of air quality standards.

And who are the key partners supporting you in this process?

Part of my role is leading the Interagency Consultation Group meetings, in which representatives from Maryland Department of the Environment, Maryland Department of Transportation and the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board are the voting members. Clean Air Partners is also a great resource, providing important information and messaging that can be shared with a variety of audiences.

Speaking of, what key highlights do you hope folks take away?

Ground level ozone, or smog, is caused by tailpipe emissions from cars, trucks and other vehicles. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are emitted into the air while driving, and these gases then react with sunlight to create ozone. There is an opportunity to reduce ozone emissions by implementing transportation projects that reduce congestion, increase bike and pedestrian activities, and reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT). We’re on the right track. Air quality in the Baltimore region has been improving, and ozone pollution has decreased. Small changes in your everyday routine can make a difference! Things like:

• Combine your errands into one trip
• Telework at least one day per week, if possible
• Bike or walk to work, and carpool!
• Don’t top off your gas tank once it is full. The extra gas will just evaporate off.
• Keep up with regular maintenance of your car. Not only will you be safer, the car will be more efficient.
• Limit outdoor activities and driving on high ozone days. You can check the air quality forecast where you live at: cleanairpartners.net

Taking notes here! How can folks learn more and stay involved?

You can visit cleanairpartners.net to get daily air quality forecasts, more information about air pollution, and ways you can help keep the air clean. You can also check out more information about our environmental work at baltometro.org/environment/planning-areas/air-quality. 

That's all from Anna, but check out our other Reaching Resilience 2050 entries on Climate Resilience, Project Implementation and Safety. To learn more about our Resilience 2050 long-range transportation plan, please visit publicinput.com/Resilience2050.

Thanks for your interest in Reaching Resilience 2050, our Q&A series fleshing out the people and processes behind our latest long-range transportation plan. To read the plan in full, explore potential projects near you and learn how to share your feedback, please visit publicinput.com/Resilience2050.

Regina Aris is Assistant Director of Transportation for Baltimore Metropolitan Council.

Hi Regina! To start off, tell us a little about your work at BMC.

I manage our team of subject matter experts to facilitate the planning processes for short- and long-term investments in our region’s transportation system. These investments support operations, system preservation and expansion of road, transit and bicycle/pedestrian facilities. At every stage, we follow federal rules for adopting plan goals and strategies, project prioritization, financial forecasting and public engagement to ensure that projects align with regional and local priorities. The plans prepared by our staff lay the foundation for funding, design and construction of new projects.

And how does this work fit into the preparation of Resilience 2050?

We develop a new long-range transportation plan (LRTP) every four years, and Resilience 2050 is our latest. This is where it all starts. MDOT and local jurisdictions submit candidate projects for inclusion in the LRTP, which we score on metrics such as priority, mobility and accessibility, safety and the environment. For Resilience 2050, we received 98 candidate projects and included 92 in the plan. We draw from projects in the LRTP to develop a short-range Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). When the TIP is approved, funding starts to flow.

Good stuff. Who are the key partners supporting this process?

The Baltimore Regional Transportation Board, which includes members representing the local jurisdictions and state agencies supporting our region’s transportation system, guides and approves our planning work. We work closely with these partners to develop and implement planned projects. We also work with expert consultants to tackle project-specific challenges. Additionally, local businesses, nonprofits and members of the public are important stakeholders to engage. We collect and consider feedback at every stage of planning, and we’re grateful to everyone who engages with our work.

Preach! And what key highlights do you hope folks take away?

In our outreach around previous short- and long-range plans, we heard clear calls to prioritize transit investments. For Resilience 2050, we altered our project scoring methodology to make transit projects eligible for more points than roadway projects. As a result, the plan includes all 36 of the transit projects submitted, and 56 of the 62 roadway projects submitted. We also increased the number of points for safety in response to the tragic uptick in deaths and serious injuries our transportation system has seen in recent years. We want to reverse this trend.

How can folks learn more and stay involved?

By following our social media channels, subscribing to our newsletters and checking our website now and then is a great start. This is where we’ll share more detailed plans for specific projects and the associated public involvement opportunities. When you see us asking for comments on a reconstructed bus facility, a trail extension or a bridge replacement, please take a few minutes to learn more and let us know your thoughts. Join our public meetings if you can. We’d love to have you.

That's all from Regina, but check out our other Reaching Resilience 2050 entries on Air Quality, Climate Resilience and Safety. To learn more about our Resilience 2050 long-range transportation plan, please visit publicinput.com/Resilience2050.