America’s public transportation systems are under strain, buckling under extreme heat as climate change accelerates. Public transit, the backbone of urban mobility, faces unprecedented challenges, from delays and derailments to infrastructure damage and worker safety risks.

Communities dependent on these services are left vulnerable, and some feel the brunt of it more than others.

Trains Slow, Roads Buckle

Heat has a direct impact on transportation infrastructure. Rail lines warp, roads crack, and the very systems meant to move people safely are grinding to a halt.

In New York, the country’s busiest transportation hub, Amtrak and New Jersey Transit suffered widespread delays as temperatures soared in the summer of 2024, affecting millions of commuters. The electrical systems and overhead wires couldn't handle the heat, leading to slowdowns and cancellations, NBC News reports.

The Washington D.C. Metro also imposed speed restrictions as extreme heat caused tracks to soften and wires to sag, according to the Washington Times It’s a problem that rail operators across the country are familiar with. During heatwaves, slow-moving trains become the norm, as accidents and derailments are a real threat. In 2022, a BART train derailed in San Francisco when heat compromised the track structure PBS NewsHour reports.

Roads aren’t faring any better. Highways in Utah and Wisconsin were temporarily shut down after the asphalt buckled under the pressure of triple-digit temperatures. In some areas, the damage stretched for miles, with detours adding hours to commuters’ journeys SSTI reports.

Air Travel Isn't Immune

Air travel, once immune to these ground-level issues, is now also feeling the heat. Aircraft require cooler, denser air for optimal lift, and when temperatures rise, planes struggle to reach takeoff speeds. This leads to longer runways, lighter loads, and in some cases, canceled flights. The situation has become so severe that airports in Phoenix have seen grounded flights during extreme heat waves, with tarmac temperatures reaching unsafe levels for plane operation, reports PBS NewsHour.

But it’s not just takeoff and landing that’s affected. Passengers are bracing for bumpier flights, as rising heat contributes to more turbulence. This turbulence is linked to changes in wind patterns brought on by climate change, making air travel increasingly uncomfortable and unpredictable.

Communities on the Frontlines

Not all communities are equally impacted. In fact, those already marginalized—low-income families and communities of color—bear the heaviest burden. Urban heat islands, where temperatures are significantly higher than surrounding areas, disproportionately affect these neighborhoods, often due to a lack of tree cover and green spaces. This exacerbates the situation for those waiting at bus stops or walking along unshaded sidewalks.

A study in Phoenix found that bus stops reached temperatures of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, putting passengers at extreme risk while they waited for often infrequent services. Without shade or adequate cooling systems, these stops turn into heat traps, creating dangerous conditions for those who rely on public transit, according to the International Journal of Biometeorology.

Workers at Risk

Transit workers, who keep these systems running, are not immune from the dangers of extreme heat either. Maintenance crews and airport ground workers are among the most exposed, often working in the open air without adequate protection. The risks are immense, from heat exhaustion to heatstroke. These are life-threatening conditions, yet in many areas, there are still no comprehensive heat preparedness plans for workers NBC News reports.

The Biden administration has proposed new rules requiring employers to address heat hazards in the workplace, which would be a first in federal safety standards for heat exposure. This rule could be a game-changer for protecting millions of workers who face high temperatures daily.

A Climate-Ready Future?

Looking forward, there are solutions, but they require significant investment. Cities like Barcelona are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to control the ventilation in their subway systems, while in London, engineers are experimenting with natural cooling methods, such as water-cooled panels in Tube stations UITP reports.

But solutions like these require political will and public funding. The transportation sector, the largest contributor of greenhouse gases in the U.S., needs to adapt to the realities of climate change, and fast. While some efforts are being made to update infrastructure, many systems are still decades behind.

As Kristina Dahl, a climate scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists, told PBS NewsHour, "Our infrastructure was largely designed for the climate of the past."

Without urgent action, the future of public transportation in a warming world looks grim. The impact of climate change on our roads, rails, and skies is already here. Now, it’s time to make our infrastructure ready for the heat of tomorrow.

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