Authority Seeking Innovative, Energy Efficient Cooling Solutions as Climate Experts Predict Extreme Heat in New York Metro Area to Increase
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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced that it is seeking information for cooling technology that can be deployed in the New York City subway system. With extreme heat conditions on the rise and expected to increase further amid the effects of climate change in the next few decades, the MTA is seeking information on innovative ways to cool subway stations, particularly for passenger-occupied zones on platforms.
This solicitation invites leading organizations to propose strategies to MTA Construction & Development (MTA C&D) for cost-effective station cooling, particularly low-emissions solutions that align with the MTA’s commitment to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by 2040.
The MTA system is vulnerable to extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change, including extreme heat. According to the New York City Panel on Climate Change, will be up to three times as many days with temperatures over 90 degrees and up to nearly four times as many heat waves in the 2030s compared to recent years.
“More frequent heat waves require us to find cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions to improving climate control in our subway system,” said MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer. “This solicitation allows us to explore sustainable and innovative technologies that can be achieved feasibly within our complex stations and in conjunction with our ambitious State of Good Repair commitments.”
“The best way to keep riders cool in the hottest weather is frequent service that gets them quickly into fully air-conditioned trains,” said NYC Transit President Richard Davey. “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.”
During the summer, particularly on days where temperatures reach 90 degrees or greater, subway platforms are often significantly hotter than the street level from train braking, train air conditioning units, and limited station ventilation. These elements all contribute to hot station conditions. Unlike typical buildings, subway stations, with stairways, sidewalk grates and significant train movements, cannot accommodate conventional air-conditioning.
Effective strategies would provide cost-effective, localized cooling of air on subway platforms to keep platform temperatures below 85 degrees on days in which temperatures reach 95 degrees or more.
Thus far, cost constraints and challenging physical environments have limited station cooling in the subway system, however, the MTA has air cooling systems installed at 34 St-Hudson Yards , Grand Central , South Ferry , 96 St, 86 St, 72 St , Lexington Av-63 St , and Cortlandt St . Additionally, there are fans installed on the platforms at the Times Square-42 St , Grand Central , 14 St-Union Square , Wall Street and Bowling Green .