Introduction:
Maximizing use of public transportation poses one of the most economically and empirically viable solutions to reducing emissions and maintaining sound environmental quality within the city of Cambridge. For this to be possible, train and bus systems must remain adequately protected from the threats of sea level rise and inland flooding. According to Marybeth Gilbert, MBTA Climate Resiliency Specialist, underground MBTA stations face the largest threat both because they are located below sea level and because of the corrosive effects of salt deposits that would be left behind by seawater flooding.[1] Public transportation shutting down or roadways becoming inoperable for a day or more could devastate the city. Essential personnel could be cut off from their workplaces and ambulances and law enforcement could have no travel methods to keep community members safe. Protecting public transportation systems, will efficiently mitigate concerns of rising sea level and flooding as they pertain to city transportation. In addition, this will prepare walkways, bike paths, and other alternate routes for negative consequences of rising waters.
Source: New York Times[2]
Figure 1: Raised subway grating to prevent water from entering subway, doubles as a seating area
Proposed Solutions:
1. Green space investment: Investment in parks, paths, and especially green space bordering all coastal areas of Cambridge, presents a viable and many-sided solution to various climate mitigation obstacles. As green space specifically pertains to sea level rise and inland flood threat, increased green space provides more plant life for water absorption and retention, providing alternate paths for flowing water to enter other than into city streets, buildings, and subway stations. Increased green space along coastal areas of the city can also provide a buffer in case of unavoidable rising waters. If sea levels surpass flood barriers or dams, having a considerable length of green space to take the extent of the hit may sacrifice plant life, park quality, and some walkways and bicycle paths, but will not pose serious economic, human routine, or public health risks to the core of the city itself. As mentioned earlier in the document, increasing green space also poses a genuine viable option due to low prospective financial costs and the considerable amount of workable land available for park and green space implementation within the city.
2. Grating Systems: Mini-berms, raised banks next to rivers or canals, could provide an excellent solution to flooding containment, but this solution may be tabled if alternate, more long-term solutions have success. Effective grating systems to prevent underground station flooding which have been recently piloted in Manhattan (a city facing similar climate change threats as Cambridge) have so-far experienced short-term success while posing relatively minimal financial loss to the city. As referenced by The MTA & Climate Change: Immediate Response | Long-Term Resilience, “Raised subway vent gratings prevent water from entering the subway, and can also provide sidewalk seating or bike storage.”[3] A photograph from the same brochure presents the MTA’s pilot version of this grating [Figure 1].
Source: Trip Advisor[4]
Figure 2: Protected walkway in Boston
3. Technology & Innovation: Some potential renovations include early refurbishments as necessary to lines currently or soon-to-be under construction, with a focus on MIT’s Red Line (presently under construction). Having more protected walkways and bike paths throughout the city could have a considerable effect on the number of constituents participating in zero-emission travel. In a seasonal New England area like Cambridge, weather poses a serious concern to many long-distance intracity commuters. Protected walkways, such as the one constructed in the city of Boston pictured above [Figure 2], allow for ease of walking or cycling no matter the weather.
4. Heat Risks: When temperatures rise, steel expands and when they cool, steel contracts – in fact, a 1,450-foot long unrestrained rail can expand up to 6 inches per 50 degrees temperature increase.[5] As a result, the ties that anchor tracks to the ground are frequently stressed, causing tracks to buckle, leaving them at risk of derailments [6]. In severe cases, trains are forced to slow down to 30 miles per hour.[5] This has been an issue on the Framingham-Worcester line, located about 25 miles from Cambridge, where heat-related delays and safety concerns compelled MBTA to replace about 30,000 railroad ties in 2016.[7] As a result of this and other renovations, the number of trains arriving on time rose by 48%.[8] Although other Cambridge area lines have not had significant delays, annual heat days over 90 degrees are expected to increase in the future, threatening the efficiency of rail systems and we must remain vigilant.[6]
5. Education: Producing and distributing informational booklets on behalf of public transportation and clean transportation options could have a major impact on the decisions Cantabrigians make regarding how they get themselves where they need to go. Furthermore, we must ensure that government subsidies and climate change facts are readily available and advertised to the public, so that everyone is fully aware of both available transportation opportunities and their present environmental impacts, could have an incredible impact on facilitating changes in social behavior and garnering support for local mitigation efforts.
By Lucy Zhang
References
- Riley-Gilbert, M. (2017, October 24). Climate Change Resiliency [Personal interview].
- Dunlap, D. W. (2008, September 19). New Subway Grates Add Aesthetics to Flood Protection. Retrieved November 29, 2017, from https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/19/new-subway-grates-add-aesthetics-to-flood-protection/
- Metropolitan Transportation Authority. (n.d.). The MTA & Climate Change [PDF]. Boston.
- Trellis covered walkway at Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park (2) – Picture of Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, Boston. (n.d.). Retrieved November 29, 2017, from https://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g60745-d558282-i158488011-Christopher_Columbus_Waterfront_Park-Boston_Massachusetts.html
- Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. (n.d.). Heat Restriction FAQ’s [DOC]. Boston: Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
- Walsh, M. J. (2016, December). Climate Vulnerability Assessment [PDF]. Boston: City of Boston.
- 30,000 Railroad Ties to be Replaced as MBTA and Keolis Continue Work to End Speed Restrictions on Framingham-Worcester Line. (2016, March 23). Retrieved November 29, 2017, from http://www.keoliscs.com/news/30000-railroad-ties-to-be-replaced-as-mbta-and-keolis-continue-work-to-end-speed-restrictions-on-framingham-worcester-line/
- Passenger Experience Improves Significantly on MBTA Commuter Rail’s Worcester Line, as Keolis Implements New Strategies to Drive Performance and Improve Customer Service. (2016, December 22). Retrieved November 29, 2017, from http://www.keoliscs.com/news/passenger-experience-improves-significantly-on-mbta-commuter-rails-worcester-line-as-keolis-implements-new-strategies-to-drive-performance-and-improve-customer-service/