Watershed and Transportation Asset Analysis
The Sarasota/Manatee MPO is leading the Watershed and Transportation Asset Analysis to better understand and identify transportation infrastructure vulnerabilities to storm surge, flooding, and watershed scale hazards. The goal of this study is to identify and assess the transportation infrastructure in the MPO region that is vulnerable to storm surges and flooding, in order to support resilient and reliable transportation infrastructure, reduce risks, and enhance coordination with regional partners.
Study Overview & Timeline
This study builds upon the MPO’s Resiliency and Vulnerability Assessments, integrating existing localized planning and data sources to create a shared regional understanding of vulnerability to environmental risks. This study will measure the impact of different natural disaster scenarios, such as inland flooding and storm surge, and will identify vulnerable transportation assets in current and future conditions.
The study is generally broken into the following phases:
- Case Studies & Stakeholder Coordination | January 2026 - April 2026
- Conducted a comprehensive review and analysis of watershed and resiliency studies across the region and convened a stakeholder group representing local, regional, state, and federal agencies involved in resilience planning and hazard mitigation. Together, the study review and stakeholder coordination established a foundation for identifying the best available data, models, and approaches. This task formed a coordinating framework to align local and regional needs and priorities for advancing projects that will make the region more resilient.
- Conducted a comprehensive review and analysis of watershed and resiliency studies across the region and convened a stakeholder group representing local, regional, state, and federal agencies involved in resilience planning and hazard mitigation. Together, the study review and stakeholder coordination established a foundation for identifying the best available data, models, and approaches. This task formed a coordinating framework to align local and regional needs and priorities for advancing projects that will make the region more resilient.
- Data Collection, Integration, and Regional Flood Modeling | January 2026 - April 2026
- Collected, integrated, and analyzed data necessary to assess the vulnerability of transportation assets to current and future flooding conditions across the region. Investigated the strengths and limitations of available data, such as each local flood model, to evaluate which factors were best suited for refining the vulnerability assessment, providing a more accurate assessment based on recent storm events. Collaborated with stakeholders to select appropriate scenarios and combined the county models to enhance the assessment of disruption to transportation infrastructure at a regional level.
- Collected, integrated, and analyzed data necessary to assess the vulnerability of transportation assets to current and future flooding conditions across the region. Investigated the strengths and limitations of available data, such as each local flood model, to evaluate which factors were best suited for refining the vulnerability assessment, providing a more accurate assessment based on recent storm events. Collaborated with stakeholders to select appropriate scenarios and combined the county models to enhance the assessment of disruption to transportation infrastructure at a regional level.
- Transportation Asset Analysis | April 2026 - July 2026
- Evaluated the exposure and criticality of transportation infrastructure, conducted scenario planning using the modeling data, and ranked/scored the infrastructure based on criteria developed in collaboration with stakeholders.
- Evaluated the exposure and criticality of transportation infrastructure, conducted scenario planning using the modeling data, and ranked/scored the infrastructure based on criteria developed in collaboration with stakeholders.
- Stakeholder Engagement | March 2026 - November 2026
- Engage local governments, and regional partners to ensure that both community perspectives and technical expertise inform regional resilience planning efforts. Through targeted stakeholder outreach and regional collaboration, these activities will build shared understanding and integrate local knowledge into future resilience strategies.
- Recommendations and Project Sheets | August 2026 – November 2026
- Produce a comprehensive list of resilient strategies for the most vulnerable corridors, identify potential retrofits, and develop high level concept sheets and align the strategies with funding opportunities.
- Reports and Deliverables | September 2026 - November 2026
- Prepare a final report, GIS files and an interactive map/dashboard based on needs that summarize the above work efforts.