The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Southern Nevada is taking steps to combat the urban heat island effect by adding new shade structures at bus stops throughout the Las Vegas valley.
With around 3,700 bus stops serving 52 million riders annually, many lack adequate shade and leave commuters exposed to extreme temperatures.
Currently, only 1,600 of the stops have shaded structures. Over the next two years, the RTC plans to add 484 new shade structures, including 150 new shelters and 125 slimline shelters for narrow sidewalks.
"I think we all recognize how important it is to help offset the heat stress by providing shade," said David Swallow, Deputy CEO of the RTC. "When we look around the valley, some parts of town just don't have as many trees, they don't have as much grass, they don't have as many parks, and so that creates this urban heat island where it heats up during they day and it holds the heat overnight and so it creates a lot of heat stress for everybody that lives and works around those areas."
The RTC has teamed up with the Desert Research Institute and the federal government, utilizing grant money to target spots where temperatures can reach up to 112 degrees.
This important initiative aims to ensure riders remain comfortable from the time they leave their homes to the time they reach their destinations.