Project Summary
Sea-level rise is a growing concern for coastal communities in California. Flooding and erosion, exacerbated by rising sea levels, hamper the viability of transportation and other critical infrastructure along California’s coasts and bays. Adapting transportation infrastructure to sea-level rise requires collaboration and coordination among policy stakeholders and governments at multiple geographic levels. This project addresses the problems of stakeholder coordination and collaboration in preparing for the consequences of sea-level rise on transportation infrastructure across California. This comparative analysis will focus on collaborative governance processes in three key infrastructure corridors: State Road 37 in the Bay Area; the Los Angeles-San Diego railroad in San Diego County; and the Pacific Coast Highway in Los Angeles County. However, this list of projects will be further refined in consultation with stakeholders as part of the project. Researchers will combine qualitative stakeholder interviews with quantitative network analysis of stakeholder collaborative ties to other actors and policy initiatives. The analysis will serve to identify and map governance challenges across the three key areas, identify opportunities for mutual learning, and identify the mechanisms affecting (whether hindering or fostering) stakeholders’ collaboration.