Overview:

Summary: Provide subsidized transit to cooling centers during heat waves can help protect communities. In particular, this can suppport vulnerable populations, especially older adults, that are isolated and/or may not have access to cooling at home.

Implementation: Subsidize or provide transit to cooling centers.

Considerations for Use: This intervention will have the greatest impact with targeted outreach to make sure community members know about public transportation options during heat waves. Additionally, cooling centers should be located in areas that are accessible to public transit.

• Policy Levers: The mechanism municipalities can use to actualize the intervention. These policy levers will likely be used in combination with each other.
  
  
  Funding and FinancingThe allocation of public or philanthropic funding or private financing to implement projects, including risk transfer mechanisms.
• Trigger Points: Opportunities for municipalities to implement risk reduction and preparedness interventions based on the policy lever, building on the United Nations Environment Programme triggers used in the Beating the Heat handbook (2021).
  
  
  City planning processesIncludes city initiatives such as the development of climate action plan, pathway to zero-energy, master plan, transit plan, energy mapping etc.
• Intervention Type:
  Planning/Policy
• Sectors:
  Informal Settlements, Transportation

Impact:

• Target Beneficiaries:
  Heat-vulnerable communities, Residents
• Phase of Impact:
  Emergency response and management
• Metrics:
  Number of riders or subsidies

Case Studies:

• Spokane Cooling Centers Free Rides

Implementation:

• Intervention Scale:
  City, Neighborhood
• Authority and Governance:
  City government, State/provincial government
• Implementation Timeline:
  Short-term (1-2 Years)
• Implementation Stakeholders:
  CBOs, City government
• Funding Sources:
  Public investment
• Capacity to Act:
  High, Medium

Benefits:

• Cost-Benefit:
  Low
• Public Good:
  High
• GHG Reduction:
  Low
• Co-benefits (Climate/Environmental):
  Reduce air and water pollution, Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Co-benefits (Social):
  Build social cohesion, Improve human health