Heat Index

Living in Arizona means developing an active awareness of how heat shapes our daily lives. In Phoenix, the average daily temperature in July (the hottest month of the year) hovers around 95.5°F (35.3°C), with record highs reaching 122°F (50°C). The average daily maximum in July is 106.5°F (41.4°C), making heat not just a condition but a constant presence. What we often overlook, however, are the residents who lack access to reliable transportation. Spanning over 1,100 square miles, the Phoenix metropolitan area is one of the largest examples of urban sprawl in the United States. While Valley Metro provides transit across much of this region, weekday ridership averages only about 126,700 or roughly 3.5% of the population. Limited route coverage, infrequent service (with many buses arriving only every 20 minutes), and the unbearable nature of waiting in 110°F (43°C) heat contribute to this low usage. The result is a disproportionate burden on lower-income individuals, many of whom rely on these limited transit systems for work, education, and access to basic needs. Heat Index is in dialogue with the efforts of Arizona based landscape architects and urban planners who are working to mitigate this harm through the strategic use of shade, trees, and thoughtful redesign of public infrastructure. The work reflects both the oppressive weight of the desert heat and the human resilience required to move through it.