Transit planning and climate change: Reducing rider's vulnerability to heat

Andrew Fraser, Mikhail Chester

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Public transit systems have been identified as a critical component to reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the transportation sector to mitigate future climate change impacts. A unique aspect of public transit is its use almost always necessitates environmental exposure and the design of these systems directly influences rider exposure via rider ingress, egress, and waiting. There is a tension between policies and programs which promote transit use to combat climate change and the potential impact an uncertain climate future may have on transit riders. In the American Southwest, extreme heat events, a known public health threat, are projected to increase between 150 and 840% over the next decade, and may be a health hazard for transit riders. There are opportunities to incorporate rider health risks in the overall planning process and develop alternative transit schedules during extreme heat events to minimize these risks. Using Los Angeles Metro as a case studies, we show that existing transit vehicles can be reallocated across the system to significantly reduce exposure for riders who are more vulnerable to heat while maintaining a minimum level of service across the system. As cities continue to invest in public transit it is critical for them to understand transit use as an exposure pathway for riders and to develop strategies to mitigate potential health risks.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationInternational Conference on Sustainable Infrastructure 2017
Subtitle of host publicationPolicy, Finance, and Education - Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Infrastructure 2017
EditorsFeniosky Pena-Mora, Lucio Soibelman
PublisherAmerican Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Pages456-464
Number of pages9
ISBN (Electronic)9780784481202
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017
Event2017 International Conference on Sustainable Infrastructure: Policy, Finance, and Education, ICSI 2017 - New York, United States
Duration: Oct 26 2017Oct 28 2017

Publication series

NameInternational Conference on Sustainable Infrastructure 2017: Policy, Finance, and Education - Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Infrastructure 2017

Other

Other2017 International Conference on Sustainable Infrastructure: Policy, Finance, and Education, ICSI 2017
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNew York
Period10/26/1710/28/17

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Management of Technology and Innovation
  • Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

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