CoP on Extreme Heat in Transport Systems
Implementing Partner: Build Change
Project name: Community of Practice for Extreme Heat Management in Public Transport Systems
Extreme heat affects public transport infrastructure, operations, and ridership. Prolonged exposure to heat while waiting at stations adversely affects the health and safety of passengers, especially vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, women, and individuals with existing medical conditions.
To address these, this CoP recommended guidance measures such as mandating heat impact screening, integrating heat-resilient materials in transport infrastructure, and shading and cooling solutions at transport stops.
Impact
1
Enhancing pedestrian networks with seamless connectivity and pathways will encourage increased transport use. This can lead to a 15% increase in ridership, which, in turn, will stimulate economic activity and boost property values along transport corridors.
2
Creating shaded walkways with cooling, first aid, and hydration stations along busy routes, especially for vulnerable populations, will reduce heat-related health risks by 30%, ensuring safer urban mobility and providing immediate relief from extreme heat.
3
Improving thermal comfort to increase ridership by 10%, alongside green infrastructure enhancements, such as green corridors that reduce surface temperatures by 5–7°C and lower energy costs by 10%, will drive long-term operational savings and promote environmental sustainability.
