This regular bulletin provides a quick read on transit organizations’ ideas and practices in responding to COVID-19:
- September 15: Real-time Multiagency Trip Information in MN; RFTA Boosting Bus Capacity on Shorter Trips in CO; and Fines for Face Mask Noncompliance in NYC
- September 14: Encouraging Downtown London Travel; TfL Monitoring Ridership Trends; and Toronto Now Operating Largest North American Fleet of Electric Buses
- September 11: Charlotte Creating Bus-only Lanes; Better Transit Options – A Private-sector Priority in MN; and SEPTA “Move Better Together” Plan
- September 10: How Weather Forecasts Impact Transit Ridership; Transit and Affordable Austin Housing; and Repurposing Streets in Denver
- September 9: St. Paul Empowering Development Near Transit; Metrolink Kids Ride Free Promotion; and MaaS Pilot in Israel
- September 4: Metro Transit Reduced Fares for Persons Experiencing Unemployment; Uniform Face Masks for Port Authority of Allegheny County Operators; and Urban Housing Markets Remain Strong
- September 3: Regional Mobile Payments in Washington; The Limits of Working Remotely; and Affordable Housing
- September 2: California Accelerating Transit Projects; IndyGo Bus Stop Consolidation; and All 18 WV Transit Agencies Providing Access to Addiction Treatment
- September 1: Constant Recalibration by Monterey-Salinas Transit; New Central Virginia Transportation Authority Enabling Transit Growth; and School Bus Lines / Private Bus Lines Struggling
- August 31: LA Metro Fare-free Transit Pilot; MBTA to Build 14 Miles of Dedicated Bus Lanes; and Monthly Pass Sharing Plans in Sweden
- August 28: COTA Bringing STEM opportunities to Underserved Ohio Neighborhoods; UTA Expanding Access to Healthy Food; and Post-Pandemic Telework Study by Harvard
- August 27: UTA Distributing Free Masks to University Students; 3 to 6 Foot Distancing; and Arkansas Bus Network Redesign
- August 26: Touchless Kiosks at DART Stations; Electric-assist Cargo Tricycles in Boston; and Air Travel Updates
- August 25: The Broader Relationship Between Public Transportation and Personal Health; Use of Automation in Trinity Metro Transit Security; and Forbes Finds Synergies Between Transit and Biking
- August 24: VTA Engaging Older Adults Virtually; Repurposing Freeways; and The Future of Mobility Post-Pandemic
- August 21: Bay Area Healthy Transit Plan; MARTA Helps Persons Experiencing Homelessness; and the Importance of Good Ventilation
- August 20: Schoolchildren Given Priority on Buses in London; Integrating Telework and Transit in Virginia; and Integrating Road Pricing and Transit
- August 19: Mayors’ Transportation Vision; Reimagining Suburbs; and An Essential Service for Essential Workers
- August 18: Where Workplace Outbreaks Happen; Impact of Transit Service Cuts; and Automated Mobility Corridors in Michigan
- August 17: Transport to COVID-19 Testing Sites in KY; MARTA Installing Air Purifiers; and Use of Thermal Sensors in Asia
- August 14: New CDC Guidance for Transit Workers and Planning the Complete Trip in Washington State
- August 13: Dayton Bus Passes for Persons on Unemployment; Cashless Mobile Ticketing in Spain; and Virginia Still Advancing Transit Capital Projects
- August 12: Self-Sanitizing Technology; Flexible Dispatching by BART; and Face Coverings and iPhones on NY MTA
- August 11: Personal Hand Straps; Reducing Risk with Good Air Flow; and Process Improvements
- August 10: MBTA Finds There is No Rush Hour; Transit Outpaces Standards for Airflow and Ventilation; and Research Continues to Find Riding Transit is Lower Risk
- August 7: Operator Restroom Information During Closures; Testing the Effectiveness of Social Distancing on Trains; and Walkable Places Ordinance Passed in Houston
- August 6: New TfL App Has Real-Time Customer Information; Open-Air Mobility Options in Jacksonville; and Assistance for Persons Experiencing Homelessness
- August 5: Incentives for Going Cashless in Santa Monica; Building Transit-Oriented Communities in Toronto; and No Correlation Between Density and COVID-19 Infection Rates
- August 4: New Studies Rate Transit Risks Low; Resiliency and Sustainability; and Physical Distancing
- August 3: Taxi Subsidies to Offset High-cost Paratransit; More-frequent Service Adjustments in Boston; and Automated Trip Announcements to Keep MD Riders Safer
- July 31: MTA Distributes Masks; Miami Adds On-demand Shuttles; and Reserved Seating on Colorado Inter-city Buses
- July 30: COVID Testing at a BART Transit Hub; Multimodal Access to Tacoma Activity Centers; and COTA Extends Fare-Free Rides
- July 29: Online Meetings with Pennsylvania Riders; Enhanced Safety Measures in NJ Transit Stations; and Planning for Increased Density in New Zealand
- July 28: SEPTA Social Distancing Coaches; Allowing More People on TriMet Buses and Trains; and Open-Air Buses for London Commuters
- July 27: Houston Building Back from the Pandemic; Distribution of Free Masks in DC; and the Path Forward at Amtrak
- July 24: Retrofitting Suburbs, Restoring Service Where it is Needed Most, and Safe Transit in the COVID19 Era
- July 23: California Recommendations for the Future of Transit, Toronto Bus Boarding Guidelines, and WMATA Ramping-up Bus Service
- July 22: Transit’s Continuing Affordability Advantage, Sarasota Planning for the Future, and Digital Payments in Texas
- July 21: RFTA Cashless Fare Collection the New Normal, More Space for Buses Worldwide, and Health Reasons Checked by Delta for Mask Exceptions
- July 20: UTA Anticipating the New Normal, Televised Spot-Check of Subway Cleaning, and Telecommuting Long-term
- July 17: Affordable Housing Incentives; Fare Discounts for Low-income Riders; and Fifteen-minute Cities
- July 16: VTA Return- to-Work Playbook, LA Metro’s Path Forward, and MBTA Returns to Front Door Boarding
- July 15: Accommodating Growing Ridership in NJ; Ventilation & Airborne Spread; and Keeping Metra Riders Safe
- July 14: Restoring Service through the Health and Budget Crisis; Technological Systems to Improve Passenger Counting; and Shifting to On-demand Service
- July 13: Welcoming Back Riders in Milan; Quick-build Bus Lanes Coming to DC; and Affordable Housing Incentives in Maryland
- July 10: States Opting to Repurpose Roadway Lanes; Cities ALSO Opting to Repurpose Streets; and Extended Closures for SF Cable Cars
- July 9: Local Funding for Equitable Recovery; COVID-19 Impact Analysis Platform; and Accelerated Transition to Touchless Payments
- July 8: Santa Clara VTA Strengthening Trust in Transit; USDOT Health Self-Declarations; and DC Metro Coordinating Return-to-Work Plans
- July 7: Pedestrian-Prioritized Streets; Toll Road Traffic and Revenue; and Distribution of Face Masks and PPE
- July 2: BART Passenger Load Charts; Paris Enforcing Mask Requirements; and Denver RTD is seeking to hire additional mental health counseling staff and a homelessness services coordinator
- July 1: Operator Temperature Checks in Hawaii; Mask Dispensers Aboard RTC Washoe Buses; and Transport of Essential Workers by NJ Transit
- June 30: Richmond Goes Fare Free for Possibly 12 More Months; A More Cashless Society; and Averting the Return of Traffic Gridlock
- June 29: Flattening the Rush-hour Curve; American Airlines to Begin Filling Planes to Full Capacity; and Economic Benefits of Agglomeration
- June 26: Cleveland Partnering to Help Non-destination Riders; Sweeper Buses Added by SolonoExpress to Boost Social Distancing; and COTA Coming Back Differently
- June 25: Rewarding Off-peak Travel; and Systems Aiding Passenger Social Distancing by Publishing Bus Crowding Reports and Mobility Data
- June 24: Expanded Use of UV Light in Northeast US; Increasing Frequency of Bus Trips in LA; and Akron Incentives to Shop Local
- June 23: CTA Travel Healthy Kits; Alignment of Regional Reopening Plans in New York; and San Diego’s New Fare Enforcement Diversion Program
- June 22: MBTA’s Flexible Fare Options; Fare-Free SEPTA Rides for Children; and VIA Revisiting Strategic Plans in Texas
- June 18: Improvements in Air Filtration; Real-time Information; and Getting Regions Moving Again
- June 15: Measures to Mitigate Need for Social Distancing; Deeper Discounts for Low-Income Riders; and New Study Says Wearing Masks is Key
- June 12: LA Building Back Better; Graphics Help Tell the Story in DC; and More Good News on Transit Elections in WV
- June 11: Continuing Voter Support for Transit; Flexible Use of State Transit Funds; and Encouraging Data from Asia and Europe
- June 10: Digital Currencies Tied to Transit Cards; Density vs. Overcrowding; and International Ridership Trends
- June 9: Promoting Domestic Tourism with Train Passes; White House Easing Environmental Permitting; and SEPTA’s Reopening Guide
- June 8: Chicago’s COVID-19 Transit Dashboard; Low-cost Capital for COVID-19 Recovery; and Attaining Sustainable Mobility Goals
- June 5: Apple Charting Return to Pre-COVID-19 Mobility Trends; Automobile Sales Rebound; and Transit Rewards Programs and MaaS
- June 4: Transit Service Recovery Plans in Ottawa; Contactless Seattle Crosswalks; and Using Train Weight to Monitor UK Passenger Numbers
- June 3: Mobility-as-a-Service in Austin; Reorienting Public Spaces; and WHO Guidelines on Outdoor Events and Mass Gatherings
- June 2: Retractable Shields in Santa Clara; SF Conducts Research on Traffic Data During Shelter-in-Place; and Resuming Fare Collection in PA, WI, and MO
- June 1: New Importance of Dedicated Bus Lanes; PPE Vending Machines; and Redesigning Public Transport in Italy
- May 29: BART Regaining Public Confidence; LA Metro Wearable Fare Payment; and Paris’ Use of Crowdsourced Information
- May 28: APTA Develops a Pandemic Virus Service Restoration Checklist; Private Donations of PPE; and TFL Business Community Partnership
- May 27: Use of Smart Cameras, Personal Health Certification, and Airline Industry News
- May 22: Ultraviolet Lamps Pilot; Fly Healthy. Fly Smart. Awareness Campaign; and EPA Guidance for Disinfecting Public Spaces
- May 21: Boston Facilitating Cashless Fare Payment; Temperature Checks at Malaysian Stations; and #SoundTheHorn to Honor Transit Workers
- May 19: Social Distancing Apps in New Zealand; Kansas City Flexible Routing; and Congestion Fee Increase in London
- May 18: Four Decision Tools for Return to Workplace/Restoring Transit Service; Longer-lasting Disinfectants; and LA Metro Phased Restoration of Bus and Rail Service
- May 15: Montreal Buses as Mobile Testing Clinics in, Filling Service Gaps in Des Moines, and WMATA’s Phased Return to Full Service
- May 14: Transit Capital Projects Advance Across U.S.; Airlines Use Blank Slate to Plan Future Operations; and With Fewers Cars on the Road, Seattle Adjusts Traffic Signals to Benefit People on Foot
- May 13: SEPTA Return to Service and Fare Collection; Staggered Work Hours in London; and Equity Goals in Economic Recovery
- May 12: Milan Restores Public Transport Service, Tests of NYC Transit Workers, and Activating Public Spaces in California
- May 11: First Passenger and Crew Temperature Checks on Airlines; Providing Access to COVID-19 Testing in Detriot; Overhauling Seattle Streets
- May 8: Mats at Station Entrances, Contact Tracing Apps, and A New York Subway First
- May 7: Expediting Construction Projects, Reopening Businesses, and Advocacy During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- May 6: Returning to Fare Collection in Canada, San Diego MTS Use of Fog Machines, and Use of Air Curtains on Korean Rail
- May 5: Ultraviolet Sanitation Lights; Innovation and Teamwork; and Providing More Space for Pedestrians
- May 4: Articulated Buses and Social Distancing; Virtual Enrollment in Fare Programs; and International Lessons from Taipei
- May 1: Enhanced Mobile Apps, Fare Validation at Center Doors, and Heroes Moving Heroes
- April 30: Postponement of Service Changes, COVID-19 Impacts Ridership, and Extra Efforts to Keep Public Transit Clean and Safe
- April 29: Employee Health and Wellness, Updated Code of Conduct, and White House Guidelines on Reopening the Economy
- April 27: Reaching out to Small Business, Transit Use by Essential Workers, and Economic Impact of Public Transportation Investments
- April 24: Quick and Low-cost Solutions to Enhance Operator Safety; Route Modification to Assure Lifeline Access; and Monitoring International Cities
- April 23: FTA Waives Local Match for FY 2020 and Prior Funds, Transit Employee Food Drive, and Local Clarification of Face Coverings
- April 22: Ongoing Service Adjustments; Online Resources for Parents and Children While at Home; and Effective Ways to Communicate Social Distancing
- April 21: Complimentary Door-to-Door Service for Health-Care Workers, Transporting Homeless Populations to Safe Havens, and Mesh Fencing to Enforce Social Distancing
- April 20: Alternative Transportation Along Suspended Bus Routes; COVID-19 Tests to Protect Workers and Passengers; and Delivering Vital Meals and Groceries
- April 17: Lines of Credit to Bridge Funding Gap; Opportunities to Advance Capital Projects; and Paratransit Manifest Records and Quarantine Protocols
- April 16: Closing-off First and Last Cars, Options for Online Donations, and #SoundTheHorn to Honor Transit Workers
- April 15: Mobile Hot-spots in San Antonio, Mandatory Face Coverings Aboard NJ Transit, and Automated Delivery Services on the Increase
- April 14: Temperature Checks of Transit Workers, Rotating Operators into Adjusted Schedules, and Germ-Killing Gateways
- April 13: PSTA Completes Installation of Safety Shields, Credits for Prepaid CTA Transit Passes, and TransLink “Keep-Your-Distance” Decals
- April 10: Connecting Communities to Care; Detecting COVD-19 Through Voice Recordings; and Transporting Meals and Essential Supplies
- April 9: Filling-in Service Gaps for Essential Trips, Resuming Service After a Shutdown, and Social Distancing Graphics
Here are examples of transit agency safety alerts and documents:
COVID-19 Emergency Response Actions and Protocols
- Bay Area Rapid Transit: COVID-19 Preparedness and Response
- Long Beach Transit: COVID19 Response and Actions
- Florida Department of Transportation: Covid-19 Resources FDOT-CUTR 040120
- New York Public Transit Association, Inc.: COVID-19 Recovery & Restoration Task Force Initial Report
Public Communication on the COVID-19 Response
- Transport for London: Briefing for Businesses on Going Back to Work (May 20)
- Transport for London: TfL announces plan to help London travel safely and sustainably as Government sets out roadmap to gradually ease coronavirus restrictions (May 11)
- German VDV: Hygiene rules and information for employees and passengers in public transport (April 14)
- Sacramento Regional Transit: Helping students bridge digital divide by equipping 10 SacRT buses with WiFi equipment to provide free wireless internet for up to 1800 feet in strategic locations (May 1)
- Trinity Metro: Social Distancing Graphics (April 9)
- Bay Area Rapid Transit: Public Health Recommendations poster
- Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority: Filling-in Service Gaps for Essential Trips (March 25)
- Salem Area Mass Transit District (Cherriots): Resuming Service After a Shutdown (April 7)
- King Country Metro: Metro upgrades cleaning protocols and frequency (YouTube)
- SunLine Transit Agency: Free Fares on Local Fixed Route Service press release
- The Comet: The COMET Is Working Hard To Keep You Safe On Our Buses And Fight COVID-19!
- City of Phoenix Public Transit Department / Valley Metro: COVID-19 Updates
- Tahoe Transportation District: TTD COVID-19 Transit Service
COVID-19 Bulletins to Transit Agency Employees
- Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority: Revised Safety Alert SA #20 01 Coronavirus
- Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority: Memo, RE: Coronavirus Employees Information
- Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority: Updated Coronavirus Information
- San Diego Metropolitan Transit System: Rule of the Week – Coronavirus Identifying and Prevention
- Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority: MARTA Police Department Emergency Preparedness Bulletin
- Jacksonville Transportation Authority: Memo to Administrative Employees
- Minnesota’s Metro Transit: Bulletin on Response to COVID-19
- Long Beach Transit: Coronavirus Response Memo from CEO
- SunLine Transit Agency: COVID-19 FAQ for Supervisors-Managers
- Sacramento Regional Transit: SacRT Employee FAQs, Re: COVID-19
- Sacramento Regional Transit: LR Reader 9 Supervisor Guidance FFCRA
- Sacramento Regional Transit: Request for Emergency Paid Sick Leave 3-30-20
- Sacramento Regional Transit: Request for Emergency FMLA 3-30-20
- City of Fresno: COF COVID-19 self screening form
- New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority: How to Handle a Situation Where a Contractor/Consultant May Be Sick
- Santa Cruz Metro: Customer Alert on COVID-19 Service Changes & Other Updated Changes
Mobility Innovation during the COVID-19 crisis
Visit APTA’s Mobility Innovation Hub to see how transit agencies are innovating in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
