The Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) has developed a comprehensive Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning Study addressing challenges posed by rising sea levels and coastal flooding to Marin County’s transportation infrastructure.
Sea level rise affects everyone in Marin County, from those living close to the shoreline to those living in the hills. Even those with property outside of inundation zones will be affected by service disruptions due to the flooding of emergency services and hospitals, and, most relevant to TAM’s interests, delays and congestion on local roads when flooding disrupts key transportation routes such as Highway 101 and State Route 37, the report notes.
The study also says the impacts are likely to be felt most acutely by community members with fewer resources and historically underserved communities.
With the passage of Measure AA, TAM has dedicated, ongoing funds for sea level rise protection, estimated at $250,000 annually based on the current revenue projections. These funds have a wide array of eligibility and potential application and were used to develop its study.
Even with this dedicated funding, the overall landscape to implement sea level rise resilience projects remains complicated, according to MTC/ABAG and BCDC estimates, the study states.
Many areas rely on haphazard measures and aging infrastructure to remain dry today, and sea level rise adaptation presents an opportunity for an intentional, coordinated effort to address vulnerabilities and improve community infrastructure. Success hinges on outreach and incorporation of community needs into resilience projects, according to the report.
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