ITE Sandbox Competition: Resilience in the Face of Climate Change

The goal of the competition was to apply “a variety of strategic, programmatic, and tactical activities to improve the resilience of transportation infrastructure in response to four potential climate/naturally occurring threats: Coastal Flooding, Wildfire, Winter Storms, and Extreme Heat.” Participants were challenged to create a comprehensive plan that included both mitigation and adaptation strategies, along with a conceptual infrastructure design improvement, to address climate-related risks for two of four events.

Our team chose to address wildfire risks in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and extreme heat risks in Billings, Montana. The approach involved evaluating the existing transportation systems in each location and their vulnerabilities in emergencies. Using this analysis, we developed a plan to improve resilience before, during, and after such events. To complement the plan, we redesigned a vital corridor in each location to better support communities during emergencies.

For Idaho Falls, our plan focuses on proactive measures to defend public spaces, foster public awareness and education, and enhance emergency response capabilities. Key strategies include adopting a Fire-Adapted Community framework, improving local road connections to I-15 and US-20, implementing a contraflow lane system for evacuations, and socializing residents to this system through wayfinding and simulations.

For Billings, our plan outlines resilience initiatives to mitigate the impacts of extreme heat on vulnerable individuals and communities, ensuring safe commuting and overall well-being. Key strategies include providing access to cooling centers, organizing outreach programs, establishing an extreme heat early warning system, designing heat-resilient infrastructure, and offering emergency assistance.

This competition entry demonstrated the importance of comprehensive planning and infrastructure improvements that both mitigate hazards and adapt to the changing climate. The unpredictable nature of climate change impacts calls for flexible solutions that can be modified to meet the unique needs of various communities. This ensures that resilience measures are effective and relevant, regardless of the context. By integrating resilience into transportation, a critical part of our everyday lives, we can create systems that are robust, adaptable, and capable of withstanding the diverse challenges posed by climate change.