Can you imagine making it through the NYC subway system without exiting covered in a thick layer of sweat? Yeah, us either. But we’ve got some good news–the MTA may actually install air conditioning on subway platforms!
We’ve never been so excited in our lives.
According to a press release, the MTA announced on Thursday, September 21, that it’s “seeking information for cooling technology that can be deployed in the NYC subway system.”
It’s no secret that NYC’s subway system is unbearably hot (especially during the summer), and with extreme heat conditions on the rise–and expected to continue to get worse due to climate change–the MTA is looking for ways to cool down the hot stations, particularly in passenger-occupied zones on platforms.
The MTA is hoping to implement a low-emissions solution that aligns with their commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by 2040.
“More frequent heat waves require us to find cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions to improving climate control in our subway system,” stated MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer.
And considering the NYC Panel on Climate Change expects that there will be up to three times as many days with temperatures over 90º and up to nearly four times as many heat waves in the 2030s compared to recent years, an air conditioned subway system would absolutely be welcomed with open arms.
The MTA hopes to figure out a strategy that is both cost-effective and would keep platform temperatures below 85 degrees on days in which temperatures reach 95 degrees or more.
NYC Transit President Richard Davey stated:
The best way to keep riders cool in the hottest weather is frequent service that gets them quickly into fully air-conditioned trains. Recognizing though that climate change will lead to more days with 90-degree temperatures in the 2030s, seeing if there are ways to cool platforms down, even incrementally, makes sense to improve long term customer experience and satisfaction.”
No further information, including potential timelines of installing air conditioning on subway platforms, has been released.