HOTTEST SUBWAY PLATFORMS

With temperatures in the high 90s the past few weeks, New Yorkers are all too familiar with the sweltering subway platforms - some of the hottest places in the city. The Regional Plan Association @regionalplan visited the city’s 10 busiest stations and recorded their temperatures, finding the hottest platforms at Brooklyn Bridge City Hall (101 degrees) and 14th Street Union Square (99 degrees).

RPA

The RPA explained why the platforms get so hot and why making the subways run more efficiently will also help to lower platform temperatures:

"When lines are running poorly, it starts a vicious cycle... Lines become congested, forcing cars to brake and accelerate more often, which is where most of the generated heat comes from. Dwell times increase, holding cars in the station longer as they discharge hot air conditioning exhaust onto the platform. What’s more, the stations are not well ventilated. We need to invest in infrastructure that brings down platform temperatures, like improved station ventilation, regenerative braking systems, and subway cars that consume less energy."