Futurewise participated in “scenario planning” with other state-wide transportation partners to determine how the Washington State Transportation Plan (WTP) could be updated to deal with an uncertain future.  In accordance with the graphical image shown here, WSDOT determined that two factors in the future with the highest level of uncertainty and the highest level of importance were “technological change” and “natural disasters and climate change.”  The four teams involved in the planning exercise discussed the opportunities and challenges resulting from four scenarios:

The government is able to adapt to climate change and natural disasters, and is able to keep up with technological change.

The government is unable to adapt to climate change and natural disasters, and is able to keep up with technological change.

The government is unable to adapt to climate change and natural disasters, and is unable to keep up with technological change.

The government is able to adapt to climate change and natural disasters, and is unable to keep up with technological change.

More planning for the WTP that includes the results of this exercise will occur later this year and next spring.