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Adapting infrastructure to the impacts of a changing climate
Climate change is increasing extreme weather risks, including floods and extreme heat. Even with these threats, transit is the best way to get around the New York region, and the best way to a greener future. Shoring up our system through climate resilience helps keep our subways, buses, railroads, bridges, and tunnels—and our customers—safe.
Climate Resilience Roadmap
In spring 2024, we released the Climate Resilience Roadmap that describes how we will adapt our systems to climate change over the next ten years. Based on a vulnerability assessment that incorporates current and future climate risks, the Climate Resilience Roadmap outlines ten goals that will reduce exposure to coastal storm surge, sea level rise, torrential rain and extreme heat.
To commemorate the 13th anniversary of Superstorm Sandy's arrival in New York, in fall 2025, we released an update to the Climate Resilience Roadmap. The 2025 Climate Resilience Roadmap Update includes a report on actions taken by the MTA and our New York City partners to reduce extreme weather risks. We also call on City partners to coordinate around the multiple extreme weather challenges that transcend New York City's infrastructure systems.
Heavy rain
Heavy rainfall events, also known as “cloudbursts,” are sudden, heavy downpours where a lot of rain falls in a short amount of time. These events can cause flooding, damage infrastructure, and disrupt transit service. By 2050, the likelihood of torrential rainfall events of 2 inches or greater of total rain accumulation is projected to almost double.
Coastal surge
Coastal surge floods occur when hurricane-force winds push ocean water onto land with destructive force and corrosive saltwater. The probability of a severe coastal flood is projected to triple by the 2050s. As sea levels rise, coastal floods will reach further inland compared to historic storm events, putting more areas at risk.
Sea level rise
Rising sea levels are caused by the melting of polar and glacial ice, thermal expansion of ocean waters, and vertical land movement. Sea level rise is impacting coastal communities throughout the world, even highly built-up urban areas. New York City is no exception. Mean sea levels around the New York City region are projected to rise up to 30 inches by 2050.
Extreme heat
Heat waves are defined by three or more consecutive days with temperatures above 90 degrees F. Today, the New York City region experiences an average of two heat waves and about 18 total days that exceed 90 degrees F per year. By 2050, heat waves are anticipated to increase to seven events per year and the number of days with temperatures above 90 degrees F is projected to triple.
Mitigating extreme heat conditions in underground and above ground environments is a priority for the MTA as climate change increases heat and humidity levels across the globe. Customers experience extreme heat most viscerally on underground subway platforms, but also at outdoor locations like subway and regional rail platforms and at bus stops. The MTA is working to expand our toolkit to mitigate extreme heat in both underground and above-ground environments through interventions including but not limited to air tempering systems, ceiling-mounted platform fans, geothermal cooling, and white rails.
Post-storm assessments
The MTA regularly evaluates impacts of major storms on its systems. Selected examples include: