Schumer wants probe of heat-related transit delays

The city heat lately has not only been making New Yorkers sweat but also causing them transit delays -- and Sen. Charles Schumer wants three federal transit agencies to investigate.

Schumer Sunday said he wants a U.S. Department of Transportation probe into the impact of climate change on the region's subway and rail system, as well as recommendations to address the problems extreme heat poses to tracks, electrical wires and transformers.

"It is clear that high temperatures have a devastating effect on our transit system, and we need to look at ways to mitigate that, just as we are doing with storms and floods," Schumer said.

The senator also wants federal agencies to look into heat-related delays and incidents on the rails.

On Wednesday, there were delays on Amtrak caused by power lines that sagged under the hot weather. Then, two days of delays hit electric-powered trains on Metro-North's New Haven line, which has restrictions that kick in when temperatures get hotter than 80 degrees.

He is also requesting the National Transportation Safety Board to look into whether heat was a factor in Thursday's 10-car Metro-North derailment in the Bronx along the Hudson line.