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26 Resilience-building is . . . a lever for unlocking greater economic development and business investment, as well as improved social services and more broadly shared prosperity. This is what we call the âresilience dividend.â âJudith Rodin, Rockefeller Foundation 100 Resilient Cities Initiative Economic and Community Benefits of Resilience Transportation systems are a significant national and community asset supporting many trillions of dollars of economic activity in the private sector as well as health, education, safety, and recreation in the public sector, as illustrated in Figure B-1. Certainly, all transportation assets have importance to someone, but some of your agency systems or assets may be of particular importance because of their vital economic role, absence of alternatives, heavy use, or critical function. For example, critical corridors of commerce need to be resilient during extreme weather events and other disruptions, to support recovery as well as commerce. Improving your system resilience benefits the regional and national economy because of this key role in the local and regional community. Resilient communities have the ability to prevent or delay disasters, quickly return people to work, reopen businesses, and restore other essential services needed for a full and timely economic recovery. They cannot bounce back without resilient transportation systems. Recent natural disasters have demonstrated the broad reach of events beyond local and regional impacts. For example, hurricanes such as Harvey and, more recently, Florence not only dramatically affected the neighborhoods and communities in the landfall and widespread rain zones, but also disrupted national supply chains. The Fukushima earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear power plant disaster destroyed communities and disrupted international supply chains for manufacturing. The COVID-19 pandemic had a serious impact on transportation services along with the global economy as people sheltered in place and travel became limited to essential needs only. Investment in resilience may become more attractive when investments are framed or designed to reap multiple benefits, including community economic benefits. For instance, the NYS 2100 Commission was established by the governor of New York after Superstorm Sandy to make plans for improving the strength and resilience of New York Stateâs infrastructure. Following disasters, states recognize the wide-ranging impacts that regional events can have. Fixing problems in one state and not in another affects the economies of many states, even those not directly affected. Collaborative agency efforts in some states go beyond the disaster related, such as in Maine, where the DOT works jointly with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to integrate ecological considerations into resilience initiatives (such as larger culverts) to protect the fishing industry so critical to the stateâs economy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, state DOTs supported health agencies. Some posted signs at rest areas about recommended public health practices such as handwashing techniques and social distancing. Some used dynamic message signs to recommend limiting travel and promote Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisories. Some DOTs also offered existing facilities to quickly provide drive-through medical testing locations for the state. A P P E N D I X B
Economic and Community Benefits of Resilience 27Â Â Certainly, efforts to build community resilience can be complicated. Goals can differ greatly between agencies; different communities need to tailor outcomes to their particular needs. To support a wide range of needs, many federal, state, and local departments and agencies are involved. Because transportation systems benefit communities in so many ways, the DOT CEOâs engagement can be a major part of securing a commitment to resilience by hosting constructive dialogues and building important partnerships across regions, sectors, and trans- portation modes. Source: Adapted from TCRP Web-Only Document 70: Improving the Resilience of Transit Systems Threatened by Natural Disasters, Volume 1: A Guide, Figure 3.1, p. 94. Figure B-1. Illustration of how transportation supports the interconnectedness of communities, the economy, and infrastructure. Resilience benefits extend beyond reducing the cost of repairs. Minimizing disruptions enhances public safety and has economic benefits. âNational Infrastructure Advisory Council
