Weathering the wait: Temperature impacts on school bus delays

Abstract

Transportation systems are growingly subject to extreme weather events induced by climate change. Yet, delays in operating public transportation systems due to adverse weather conditions are not well understood. In this study, we quantify the impact of temperature shocks on school bus delays in New York City during 2015–2019. We find that low temperatures lead to significant school bus delays regarding the frequency and delay time. Our heterogeneity analysis further shows that increased school bus delay time in cold weather is primarily driven by Curb-to-School buses (for students with special education and needs) and school bus operations in the mornings. Our findings provide new evidence on how temperature shocks affect transportation systems and highlight the need for adaptive strategies and planning that can aid school buses in better responding to adverse weather conditions.