Public Transit Infrastructure and Heat Perceptions in Hot and Dry Climates (June-July, 2018; Phoenix, Arizona, USA)

Increasing the use of public transit is an important sustainability
goal targeted by many cities worldwide. However, cities in hot and
warming climates risk to compromise residents’ health and thermal
comfort by incentivizing public transit use and, thus, subjecting them
to prolonged heat exposure. This dataset contains data collected
during a study on the relationships between public transit
infrastructures, microclimate and heat perceptions in the hot and dry
city of Phoenix, Arizona. A field campaign at six Phoenix bus stops
was held between June 6 and July 27, 2018. Filed campaign consisted of
surveying bus riders at bus stops and measuring microclimate variables
at sun exposed and shaded locations at bus stops. Standard,
advertising and art bus stop types along an arterial Phoenix road in
South Mountain Village neighborhood were sampled. Standard and
advertising bus stop shelters were metal with no landscaping, art
stops had a larger polycarbonate canopy, integrated artwork, trees and
landscaping features. Eighty-three participants filled out the survey,
241 microclimate measurements and 1003 surface temperatures at bus
stops were taken. Data were collected at three intervals: 7:00-9:00am,
12:00-2:00pm, and 3:00-5:00pm. Differences between sun and shade, as
well as heat perceptions were analyzed using statistical methods. The
research team has found that certain infrastructure types are more
effective in reducing particular microclimate variables, for instance,
trees were most effective in reducing air temperature by as much as
1.3°C on average, and shade from vertical advertising sign was most
effective in reducing mean radiant temperature by an average of 11°C.
Many surface temperatures of sun exposed materials sampled at bus
stops exceeded skin burn thresholds. Study participants perceived
stops with improved infrastructure and landscaping as slightly cooler.
Data collected in this study gives a glimpse of current microclimate
conditions at Phoenix bus stops, as well as user perceptions of
thermal comfort in relation to publicly used infrastructure. Thermal
comfort and user perceptions should be integrated into design of
public infrastructure to improve resilience to heat in the warming
climate.