photo by Pablo Raw
“Dear PoPville,
Has anyone else noticed that Metro stations seem significantly hotter and more humid this summer than in years past?
I’ve lived in the District without a car for more than 10 years and have taken Metro regularly for my commute. I understand that stations can’t realistically be kept cold given their size and design, but this summer feels different. On most mornings, the stations seem hotter and more humid than the air outside. When I first moved to D.C., I was struck by how much more cooler the Metro stations were compared with the NYC Subway. Friends I’ve spoken with about this issue have noticed the same thing this year, but I’m curious whether others have as well.
Beyond the discomfort, I’m concerned about the impact on vulnerable riders, including older adults, children, people who are pregnant, and people with health conditions. And with climate change likely to make extreme heat more common, this seems like an issue WMATA should consider addressing.
Randy Clarke and WMATA have made significant improvements to Metro, so I’d be interested to hear whether this is on their radar—and whether others have noticed the same trend.”