LTD Passengers Need Face Masks Covering Nose and Mouth To Ride Buses - Buses Limit Passengers for Social Distancing
Email: Pat.Walsh@LTD.org
Phone: 541-513-1236
Lane Transit District (LTD) will require all passengers on LTD vehicles and visitors to LTD facilities to wear a face mask covering nose and mouth beginning Thursday, April 9, 2020. The CDC recommends that anyone leaving their homes should use face coverings to limit their potential exposure to the COVID-19 novel coronavirus and to prevent exposing others. Bus operators and all essential LTD staff will also wear a face mask covering the nose and mouth beginning Wednesday, April 8, 2020.
In addition, LTD has already implemented new social distancing requirements by limiting the number of passengers on a 40-foot bus to 15; and to 20 passengers on longer, articulated buses, like EmX. LTD will operate extra buses on routes where the passenger load may exceed the new capacity limits to help ensure passengers can take timely, essential trips.
“We know these latest changes are inconvenient, but LTD is keeping with what health authorities believe are best practices to cut down on everyone’s potential exposure to the COVID-19 coronavirus,” said Aurora Jackson, LTD’s general manager. “Public Health First is LTD’s mission for how we will continue to deliver service to passengers making essential trips in our community during the pandemic.”
LTD bus operators and transit officers will monitor compliance with the face covering requirement.
“If a passenger is not wearing a face mask covering mouth and nose, they will not be allowed to board the bus until they do,” Jackson said. “It is in the best interest of all of us to do what it takes to be safe, particularly during those essential trips, such as for groceries, work, or doctor appointments.”
Other measures LTD has taken to limit bus operator and passenger exposure to the coronavirus are:
- Buses are cleaned daily with strong, but safe disinfectants.
- As an added precaution, District employees are regularly cleaning buses during the days at the Eugene and Springfield stations.
- Passengers are required to enter and exit from the back doors of the bus. Those passengers using the lift or who need assistance entering and exiting the bus can use the front door.
- Keep six-feet away from other passengers (social distancing).
In addition, the service changes LTD implemented on March 29, 2020, are still in effect, including:
- No buses operate on Sunday.
- Monday through Friday bus service operates at an enhanced Sunday-level of service with expanded hours on core routes, with the addition of limited service on the 92 and 96 routes.
- The first buses leave the Eugene and Springfield Stations at 7:30 a.m. and the last buses leave at 10:30 p.m. The extended service covers the following routes: EmX, 11, 13, 24, 36, 41, 51, 66, & 67.
- Saturday operates on a normal Sunday level service.
- LTD’s paratransit service, RideSource, operates regular Sunday service Monday through Saturday for only essential trips. On Sundays, RideSource operates a Sunday-level service for medically essential trips only.
LTD asks passengers to follow health guidelines provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the restroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.”
Source: CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html
Other Useful Links:- Lane County Health and Human Services: www.lanecountyor.gov/coronavirus
- Governor Brown’s Press Office: www.oregon.gov/gov/pages/index.aspx
- Congressman DeFazio: defazio.house.gov
- Oregon Health Authority: govstatus.egov.com/OR-OHA-COVID-19
- Federal Transportation Administration: www.transit.dot.gov/about/news
“So far the Governor’s message for Oregonians to stay home, stay safe is working for LTD passengers,” Jackson said. “Bus boardings have gone from 35,000 or more per weekday to right about 10,000 boardings per weekday, so with bus service changes and the other measures LTD and passengers are taking to be safe, we are reducing people’s potential exposure to the coronavirus.”
Jackson added, “LTD is doing all that it can to keep our employees and the community healthy and safe. With planning, patience, vigilance, and putting public health first we are coming together as a community to keep ourselves and our neighbors healthy.”
Please go to www.LTD.org/covid-19 for details.