The health and safety of transit passengers and employees is the most important priority for public transportation agencies. The coronavirus pandemic and its impact on our industry have underscored this principle and challenged us to develop innovative solutions. As the work continues to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, our industry will speak with a single voice about its commitment to transit users.

The APTA Health & Safety Commitments Program is designed to help public transit agencies put in place their own, individualized policies and practices that transit users have told us they want and expect. The Program defines four core categories of responsibilities – for every transit agency and for their passengers – making this a true partnership for health and safety. They are:

  • Following public health guidelines from official sources
  • Protecting each other by requiring face coverings and other protection
  • Keeping passengers informed and empowered to choose the safest times and routes to ride
  • Putting health first by requiring riders and employees to avoid public transit if they have been exposed to COVID-19 or feel ill

We used these key areas to create specific policies for our system that meet the unique needs of our riders and community.

Every community is at a different phase in fighting this virus, and you know your community best. That’s why it is important to meet these national commitments in ways that work for your system and your riders.

Public transportation systems are working every day to keep riders and employees safe from COVID-19, but they can’t do it without their riders.  For every action taken, we ask riders to share the responsibility.

  • We’re following official public health guidelines; we ask riders to follow them, too.
  • We’re protecting each other by cleaning and disinfecting vehicles and facilities; we ask riders to clean their hands and wear a face covering.
  • We’re giving riders the information they need about crowded vehicles and routes; we ask riders to give each other safe space and use transit at less busy times.
  • We require our employees to stay home if they’re sick or have been exposed to COVID-19; we ask riders to do the same.

Just as riders rely on us, we rely on our passengers to protect themselves and one another by respecting these commitments.

Agencies who wish to use the Commitments Program materials must sign and return to APTA this pledge to implement the related commitments.

Program Materials

The toolkit contains versions of each ad sized to fit common transit advertising specs. However, we know that sizes vary greatly across agencies, so please feel free to resize the ads for your needs.

Below is the complete lists of sizes in the toolkit. Examples of where they can be used are found in the “How to Use the Health and Safety Commitments” toolkit.

Items/Specs

Mask Mandate Content

Seal Artwork

Interior vehicle display (Top) – 28″ W x 11″ H

Interior vehicle display (Vertical) – 21″ W x 22″ H

Seatback signs – 8.5” W x 11” H

Bus Stop Shelter – 48″ W x 69″ H

Bus Tail/Paratransit Taillight panel – 72″ W x 21″ H

Bus exterior (Queen) – 88″ W x 30″ H

Paratransit Exterior (Queen) – 50″ W x 25″ H

Posters – 24″ W x 36″ H

Backlit diorama – 48″ W x 69″ H

Two-sheet – 46” W x 60”H

Social Graphics

Participation

Whether your agency is looking for new ways to reassure transit users or you already have a local ridership campaign underway, the HSC program provides a national level of commitment to your community.  It defines broad safety categories that every public transportation agency can meet voluntarily and in its own way.  If your agency currently has its own program, it’s likely you’re following the HSC commitments now.

We want every transit agency in the country to display the HSC’s “Seal of Commitment,” proudly showing your riders and the public that your system is following industry-wide guidelines.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email