Climate Adaptation and Infrastructure Resiliency Plan

In fall 2024, NCTD launched the Climate Adaptation and Infrastructure Resiliency Plan (CAIRP) to better prepare NCTD to recognize, address, and mitigate climate risks across all our infrastructure and property throughout our service area.

The study’s primary goal is to evaluate specific climate impacts and identify strategies to improve NCTD’s resiliency for convenience, access, and reliability of its multimodal transit system.

Review the Climate Adaptation and Infrastructure Resilience Draft Plan and Provide Feedback

NCTD provides safe, reliable transportation for more than 10 million passengers each year across North San Diego County. Our mission is to operate an environmentally sustainable and fiscally responsible transit network that offers seamless mobility for all.

NCTD has developed a Climate Adaptation and Infrastructure Resiliency Plan (CAIRP) to assess the actions it can take to reduce climate-related disruptions and improve your transit experience while building a more resilient system.

Examples of proposed solutions include:

Shade and shelter improvements to protect passengers from extreme heat and heavy rain.
Enhanced emergency communication in multiple languages and formats to improve safety and reliability.
Improve stormwater management to minimize impact from flooding.

We would love to hear from you – your feedback is vital! Review the draft CAIRP, open for review now until January 5, 2026 and share your comments using the form below or click here to help NCTD identify and prioritize the best solutions for a more resilient transit system.

Click here to download the full Draft CAIRP.

This study builds upon existing climate adaptation projects and related planning efforts in the region. The study is essential for NCTD to leverage key funding opportunities to pursue implementation of identified strategies.

North San Diego County faces a variety of climate hazards, including but not limited to:

Extreme heat, cold, and wind
Coastal hazards such as rising sea levels, flooding, tsunamis, and storm surges
Heavy precipitation, wildfires, earthquakes, and landslides

These hazards threaten infrastructure and could impact transit accessibility for residents and commuters. By proactively preparing for these hazards, NCTD can protect key services, ensuring they remain safe, accessible, and reliable, especially for underserved and transit-dependent communities.

Benefits

Implementation of the study’s recommendations will:

Enhance the resiliency of the passenger rail and bus system in Southern California.
Protect the regional economy from climate and seismic impacts by providing resilient and redundant emergency mobility options.
Protect the mobility of Southern Californians, including the most vulnerable, disadvantaged, and transit-dependent populations.

Advance Local and Regional Goals For:

Reduced criteria pollutant emissions, greenhouse gas emissions, roadway vehicle miles traveled, and roadway congestion.

Study Features

1,020 square miles of service area targeted

Fully Funded

Expected Completion: Spring 2026

Recommendations will include:

Strategies that address all stages of a project cycle
Equity-rooted solutions
Infrastructure projects
Policy Updates

Schedule

The study is divided into three phases, with each phase featuring engagement with regional partners and other stakeholders.

Stakeholder Engagement

As NCTD serves a diverse range of passengers, the study’s engagement component focused on working with County and regional staff and key stakeholder organizations to understand local climate impacts, share solutions across the region, and develop strategies that are sensitive and responsive to community needs. This process has helped refine the solutions for implementation as future projects.

The study’s engagement includes:

Advisory Committee: Input from San Diego County, SANDAG, California Coastal Commission, and CBO representatives about local context, priorities, and the technical details of plan recommendations.
Stakeholder Engagement: Input from a cross-section of community stakeholders throughout the region about the wide range of climate impacts and potential solutions, especially in regard to disadvantaged communities and transit-dependent populations.

As the strategy recommendations advance beyond this study toward implementation, additional engagement activities are expected that will move beyond the technical focus of this study into opportunities for broader public involvement.

Understanding the Impacts of Climate Hazards in North County

Impacts on Human Health

Climate hazards can impact passenger health and safety. For example, extreme heat, particularly when coupled with humidity, can affect passenger health, which may reduce ridership and/or lead to serious health outcomes, such as heat stroke, heat cramps, or heat exhaustion.

Service Delays

Climate hazards can slow or delay transit services. For example, during extreme heat events (typically above a “dry bulb” or ambient air temperature of 95°F), agencies may issue precautionary speed restrictions on rail services to prevent damage which can lead to delays. High winds, downed trees, and debris can also disrupt power or block access to roads, stations and facilities, causing service disruptions.

Damage to Transit Systems

Climate hazards can damage transportation system components. For example, Flooding and the resulting debris can lead to road closures and cause detours, delays, or suspension of transit services.

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