An Initial Transportation and Mobility Needs Assessment for the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe

Abstract

The Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe is facing extremely rapid erosion, rising sea levels, and a plausible earthquake and tsunami inundation that together threaten their community and future. In response, the Shoalwater Bay Tribe is now in the planning stage to develop housing and services at nearby higher elevations above inundation levels . The Tribe calls this initiative the 'upland expansion' instead of ‘relocation’, a term tied to deep historical trauma for Tribes across the United States. Upland expansion is as much an effort to meet current housing needs for members on and off reservation as it is a preparation for hazards-driven relocation in the future. Just as an earthquake or tsunami hazard may present the need for a safety tower and uphill assembly area, it also presents transportation and mobility challenges. Using community engagement, secondary data analysis, and a community survey, this thesis identifies the Tribe’s transportation needs and challenges; some of the immediate, short and long-term transportation-related opportunities that will contribute to Tribal goals and values, specifically as related to upland expansion; and how the Tribe may enhance mobility and transportation to support hazards resilience, self-reliance, regional accessibility, and economic development. The data, information and insights from these methods will inform a transportation and mobility needs assessment report for the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe. Based on the findings, the research intends to provide language, data, and tailored recommendations for the Tribe as it continues to seek consensus among members, technical assistance, and funding.