The requirement, announced to the transit agency’s board, follows rules set by leaders in the District and Maryland. He emphasized compliance with the order does not require having masks purchased from a retail outlet. The $700 million mystery: Why is CSX interested in regional Pan Am Railways? Metro Chief Operating Officer Joseph Leader said the agency plans to redistribute buses from less frequently used routes to busier ones, which should help alleviate crowding and long waits. Kohl’s. Over 85 percent of H-E-B stores are located in areas that already require customers to use masks, the company said. The mask policy will not be enforced with criminal sanctions, Wiedefeld said. Even if they do, he worries about the burden on passengers if agencies require masks but can’t supply them. Wearing a face mask outdoors in New Jersey will now be required by law, Gov. If you don’t have a mask, we’ll give you a free one. He said he is hoping customers take responsibility for themselves and consider the health of others. Protect your people and your customers! D.C.’s coronavirus numbers are rising. Board member Stephanie Gidigbi, who represents the District, said she has heard from riders who say they are either on packed buses or have difficulty catching a ride because of 20- and 30-minute waits. Metro has learned from other agencies that have tried to police the rule, most notably in Philadelphia, where last month officers were recorded physically dragging a rider who wasn’t wearing a mask off a bus. No ride': Uber will require drivers and passengers to wear face masks indefinitely. does Fairfax county require people to wear masks when shopping at places like grocery stores? Metro to require all passengers to wear masks beginning Monday A Metro passenger wears a surgical mask on the Red Line. “I think this is something that the board and staff has to revisit on a monthly basis at a minimum.”, Metro shifts budget, recommends deferring new initiatives to cover pandemic’s impact. Many of you have asked, “Are restaurant employees required to wear gloves and masks?” Here's the deal - there are no mandates for food service workers to wear them. Pete Ricketts has told local government officials that they won't get federal coronavirus relief funding if they require individuals to wear face masks in government buildings. On the one hand, private businesses must respect human rights laws, but they otherwise have the freedom, in many cases, to choose with whom they do business. Md. Metro board members discussed the dilemma Thursday, voting unanimously to suspend pre-pandemic plans and initiatives in the fiscal year 2021 budget aimed at growing ridership. The purpose of masks is to … We must act now. Masks with one-way exhalation valves or vents are not recommended. The transit agency estimated that a safe passenger load was about 10 passengers on a bus and about 20 on a rail car, which can typically hold more than 100 people. Please do not buy N95 respirator masks or other medical face masks, unless required for your job. Share your story: Has someone close to you died from covid-19? Several wore the masks incorrectly, either failing to cover their noses or mouths. I have flown over 800 flights over 30 years and this is the first time that I don't see SWA with leading thinking. The mask policy is just one way Metro and other transit agencies are changing the way they do business as they struggle to continue to provide service while protecting their employees and the traveling public. Board members voted to defer all the changes for at least six months. PLEASE PLEASE I need to get back on the road again. On days when riders do not see the MTA Chairman on their subway car if they need a mask, they can ask any station booth operator who will happily give them one. “It’s my hope that [Metro] can ensure dedicated service while keeping employees and riders safe, improve frequency and offer real-time data for essential trips.”. People wearing masks on a subway in Seoul, South Korea amid the COVID-19 pandemic, pictured March 6, 2020. Here's what shoppers need to know about face coverings. The money means the agency will be able to lower its subsidy request from local governments, which also are struggling financially because of the pandemic. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has released guidance that indicates that an employer may require employees to wear PPE, such as a face mask, gloves, or gowns, to reduce transmission.. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends individuals wear cloth face masks in public, and … As the Covid-19 pandemic has unfolded, authorities in different places have said different things about whether healthy people should go around wearing face masks to reduce the spread of the disease. This subway does not require their employees to wear masks...or gloves to prepare your food. Sign up for daily news delivered to your inbox: Morning (8 a.m.) | Afternoon (4 p.m.). In some locations, other existing state laws may require employers to pay for the masks when required by the order, Logsdon noted. “Bus service is an essential lifeline for those who are dependent on public transit,” Gidigbi said. Demand for MetroAccess, which is used to provide service for the elderly and people with disabilities, is down, making drivers available to fill transit service gaps. Railroads could have key role in combating pandemic, 'Big Projects' arrives, with stories both timely and timeless, Ontario Southland returns RS18 to action, repaints SW1200, CN's EJ&E-painted heritage unit hits US rails, CN celebrates 25th anniversary of privatization, unveils heritage locomotives, News Photo: CN heritage diesel makes debut run, Locomotive profile: EMD SD70 series locomotives, Locomotive profile: Gas-electric turbine locomotives, another $4.4 billion to $8 billion in aid, Metra official says ridership may never fully recover from virus losses, MTA agrees to payment for families of workers killed by virus, Rail intermodal service at best levels ever, JB Hunt executive says, 'Sound The Horn' salute grows to include commuter rail agencies nationwide, MTA will require passengers to wear face masks, Judge rules for Maryland's Purple Line project in environmental suit, Utah company spinoffs receive FRA approval for grade crossing radar system, Progress Rail inks locomotive order with Indonesia, Railway Supply Institute seeks director nominations, Disney places video of 'Thunder Mountain' train-themed roller coaster ride on YouTube, Fundraising for No. More Thursday morning rail news: I will NOT fly until everyone has to wear masks. Metro board Chairman Paul C. Smedberg asked what would happen if Metro’s fare revenue losses next year were even greater than projections because of a possible second wave of coronavirus infections. The company … Telling the stories of the victims of covid-19. Their was a woman there and I asked if there was a mask required, she said yes , so I … Subway confirmed in an email that the company is sourcing masks for franchisees and workers. Face coverings can be homemade, or simply be a … Please keep your feedback on-topic and respectful. New Jersey. A 10-cent increase in the base rail fare had also been scheduled to start July 1. Nebraska Gov. A face covering is a well-secured cloth covering or disposable mask that covers your nose and mouth. Not getting any travel postcards? On the one hand is the view shared by Dr. William Schaffner, a professor in Vanderbilt University’s Division of Infectious Diseases, who says that medical masks commonly worn by members of the public do no… “But we’re not looking to write tickets or anything of that sort.”. Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images. Transit agencies have generally taken a gentle approach to enforcing mask wearing requirements in the tri-state region, preferring to hand an offender a free mask and a gentle reminder than a summons. The company previously said that both drivers and riders are required to wear masks … — New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority will require subway, commuter rail, and bus passengers to wear face masks as of Friday, the New York Post reports. “We have been evaluating noncontact temperature monitoring,” Impastato said. One thing Metro won’t be doing, unlike the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, is checking the temperatures of operators and other employees. Mapping the spread: Known deaths and cases in the region | U.S. map, Restrictions and FAQ: D.C. | Virginia | Maryland, Who we’ve lost: Telling the stories of the victims of covid-19. Walmart will post signs and station designated "health ambassador" employees outside store entrances to remind shoppers to wear a mask. New York to require all people to wear masks when in public. Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens and Kroger are the biggest retailers to announce they will soon require masks at stores nationwide. People should wear masks that cover both the mouth and nose when waiting or, traveling on, or departing from public conveyances. This year, give a holiday gift that evokes your favorite city or state. The MTA is currently seeing declines of up to 98% in fare revenue and 65% in toll income. Several Arizona cities are already making plans.Some Arizona mayors had been planning to require face coverings with or without the governor’s blessing. Advertisement. Virginia’s coronavirus numbers are rising. Learn more: Read Rhode Island's mask order. Wiedefeld said Metro is trying to determine if the agency has enough face masks in stock for transit officers to carry and provide to passengers if clashes over the policy arise. 1) There is a difference between a law passed by a government that requires masks and a policy put in place by a private business that does so. As COVID-19 continues to spread globally, it has become clear there are two schools of thought in regards to face masks for the public. In addition, Team Subway has mobilized to help feed those in our communities who are in need as well as those working on the frontline in our healthcare facilities: In the U.K. and Ireland, more than 250,000 subs, salads and wraps, as well as cookies and pastries, have been donated to hard-working staff … Here’s what you need to know. The bottom line. The viral video drew wide condemnation and prompted the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority to revoke the policy. In a relentless pandemic, nursing-home workers are worn down and stressed o... New movies to stream this week: ‘Another Round,’ ‘Crock of Gold: A Few Roun... Hackers try to penetrate the vital ‘cold chain’ for coronavirus vaccines, s... ‘Absolutely normal’: Covid vaccine side effects are no reason to avoid the ... A pandemic winter feels daunting. The range of estimates reflects two models — one anticipating the coronavirus crisis lasts for six months, and one in which the virus disruption continues for 12 months. If "Gary" does not update the website and blast emails, passengers won't know. Equipped restaurant employees with masks, installing plexiglass shields at registers, and implemented social distancing guidelines for guests and team members. More Thursday morning rail news: — New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority will require subway, commuter rail, and bus passengers to wear face masks as of Friday, the New York Post reports.The move reflects an executive order issued Wednesday by Gov. Per the Coronavirus Facial Covering and Mask Requirements issued by the Washington Governor, if social distancing can’t be maintained fulltime due to the work nature, the work environment should be considered ‘Medium Transmission Risk’ thus employees are required to wear non-cloth disposable masks and employers are required … You're probably already familiar with standing in lines … Even so, board members said they didn’t know how Metro could create adequate buffers between passengers on buses, which riders say are already overcrowded on busy routes. Beginning Monday, Metro will require all passengers to wear facial coverings. The U.S. We strongly recommend you wear a face covering as much as possible when in a shared ... you do not need to wear a face covering as long as you maintain at least 6 There is usually a man there has been managing the place for years and I trust him handling the food. News Wire Digest second section for April 16: Report says MTA needs up to $8 billion in aid because of virus losses; California's SMART contemplates $6 million in cuts. Metro’s plans between now and then involve running enough trains and buses to help facilitate appropriate social distancing. We have the same goal. HOUSTON – No mask, no service: that is the policy at Trudy’s Hallmark store off Memorial Drive in Houston. Can employers require employees to wear face masks? they are also not enforcing the masks b worn for our safety...from their customers! This executive order does not require servers and wait staff to stay 6 feet away from customers.” So, no, the server, the hostess, the drive-thru cashier or server is not required to wear it. As parts of Maryland, Virginia prepare to reopen, Elrich says it’s too soon. Ask at a subway station booth, or ask a LIRR or … A video that went viral Friday shows what appeared to be four police officers, backed by about six more, forcibly pulling a man not wearing a face covering off of a SEPTA bus. This is just irresponsible. People should also wear masks at an airport, bus or ferry terminal, train or subway station, seaport, or similar area that provides transportation. 576 passes $1 million mark, Connecticut approves funding for commuter coaches, San Diego scraps plans for transit ballot initiative, KCS first-quarter gains overshadowed by virus uncertainty, CSX joins in Operation Gratitude effort for medical workers. A year of … They’ll first offer you a free mask and if you refuse, you could be issued a fine. Arizona: Masks are only required for customers and employees at barbers and cosmetologists but only recommended for other situations. We continue to call on the federal government -- whether it be DOT, FAA, DHS, CDC -- to require masks for crew, frontline employees and all passengers." Target will also require masks, beginning Aug. 1. (like what DC and Montgomery county are doing now) or … Trains staffers reserve the right to edit or delete any comments. Costco began requiring its … Federal and school officials are discussing splitting students or workers into groups that would come into offices or schools at different times, to help with social distancing. Here’s what you need to know. Doug Ducey will allow local jurisdictions to require face masks in public. According to the company’s website, they “ask customers and team members to wear masks," but are not requiring usage at this time. Prince George's County to require face masks to enter stores, ride TheBus. Instead, Metro plans to go into a nearly year-long phased-in recovery mode that won’t begin to really ramp up until fall, when routes, frequency and hours could expand as D.C. Public Schools reopen. Operators, too, are rotating in two groups to decrease the impact a possible outbreak could have on a department or division. While Meijer did just change their policy to require masks for anyone using their 253 locations, the the Midwestern company told Lead Stories it never issued a previous policy that was more lenient, as suggested in a popular Facebook post. But because so many infected people could be asymptomatic, according to health officials, the temperature tests would not work to spot carriers, Impastato said. In a June 30 update of a press statement, the Texas grocery chain said that 85 percent of its stores are located in communities that have implemented local mask requirements, adding, “In areas that do not have a local ordinance in place, H-E-B stores will require the use of masks or facial coverings,” with … Masks have been mandatory since May 8 under Gov. Some masks will break. Starbucks said last week that it will require customers to wear facial coverings or masks in all of its 9,000 company-owned US stores beginning Wednesday. Instead, the budget will be reshaped to help the agency survive and provide mostly limited but essential service until next spring, when the transit agency believes the public health crisis could end. The transit agency has no plans to restore full service, including peak-hour frequencies, until next spring, making its call based on customer surveys and meetings with federal workforce officials, business leaders and leaders in the District, Maryland and Virginia. Chief Safety Officer Theresa Impastato said Metro has increased cleanings of all buses and rail cars each day after use by splitting its vehicles into groups that alternate days of service. Are layovers riskier than long-haul flights during the pandemic? Greyhound riders will be in for a sweeping change come May 13 when the nation's largest bus line will require all customers to wear masks. A customer survey on which Metro has based some of it decisions doesn’t include those who take Metrobus only, officials said. At the same time, the agencies are trying to ramp up service for recovery efforts while running up huge deficits because of lost fare revenue. Northam confirms Northern Virginia likely to be excluded from initial reopening. The pandemic’s lessons are clear and simple. In effect as of: April 8. Get a weekly roundup of the industry news you need. Many people are wearing masks when/where they don’t need to, most likely because it makes them feel better, not that it’s beneficial in any way. It will be up to bus drivers and subway station workers to enforce masks on public transportation, while taxi drivers will be allowed to refuse passengers who aren't wearing masks. “We will encourage it,” Wiedefeld said of the policy. Can employers require employees to wear face masks? Andrew Cuomo requiring face coverings in busy public areas because of the coronavirus pandemic. The cuts would involve both a reduction of train frequency of the commuter rail agency’s workforce; the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat reports other possible cuts could involve ending free onboard internet service, deferred maintenance, and cuts of contracts for lobbyists to pursue future state and federal grants. View our, Your email address has been successfully added to the Trains Industry Newsletter. “We are cleaning twice as much as we did in the past, especially in our station facilities where we have daily cleaning and disinfectant activities,” Impastato said. Updated: 11:59 … Despite a fare revenue loss of $210 million dollars this fiscal year and a projected $421 million loss next year, Metro said it is able to close out this year’s budget and survive next year, thanks to $767 million it received in federal aid from the Cares Act signed into law in March. The Transport Workers Union, which represents transportation workers on subways, buses, trains and airlines, says every mass transit passenger should be required to wear a mask. They hope to get input from these mostly lower-income riders through a round of mailers. Stations, she said, are being cleaned multiple times a day, especially high touch areas. — Sonona-Marin Area Rail Transit will look to cut $6 million from its budget by this summer in response to the defeat of a March ballot initiative that would have funded the agency through 2059 as well as the revenue hit from the COVID-19 outbreak. Share Shares Copy Link Copy {copyShortcut} to copy Link copied! Until now, the agency had only recommended that riders wear face coverings. “This is necessary to keep transit workers and riders safe!” tweeted Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689, which represents most of Metro’s workers. Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld said bus and train operators asked for the requirement, as did customers on recent surveys. The claim can be found in a post (archived here) on Facebook from July 13, 2020, which read: SWA best be prepared to hand out bandanas or masks at the gangway. A project in Mali delivers delight — and ... Chancellor says parents should plan for D.C. schools to reopen in February. The LIRR and other MTA operators will require passengers to wear face masks beginning Friday. The revised budget also includes increased spending on cleaning and disinfecting, with reduced costs for other supplies. People indicated they would be more likely to use public transit again if passengers were required to cover their faces, he said. Here’s what you need to know. Beginning Monday, all Metro and Metrobus riders will be required to wear masks or face coverings to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, the agency’s chief safety officer said Thursday. ... such as the subway, ferry, bus, taxis and car services. There's also no need to wear a mask because of air pollution. Generally, most states now require residents to wear face masks or coverings while in shops, grocery stores, and shopping malls, as … Metro staffers said they had been working with officials in the federal Office of Management and Budget, local governments and schools to come up with ways to keep passenger loads down. In my opinion, you don’t need a mask with really good social distancing (staying at least six feet away from others) when you are outdoors. Grocery store Ingles is joining the growing number of stores that will require customers to wear face masks to help in fight against COVID-19. By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our, Get our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox, Digest: Amtrak will pay $2.25 million, fix stations to settle ADA discrimination claims, Digest: CP announces plans for Vancouver-area transload, logistics facility, Digest: Burlington, Iowa, council to help fund short line relocation project, Digest: Five MTA employees charged in massive overtime fraud scheme, CSX says Pan Am acquisition targets growth, Digest: Senate virus relief bill would provide $15 billion for transit, $1 billion for Amtrak, Canadian Pacific expects further intermodal growth from Port of Saint John, Norfolk Southern grabs the carload visibility bull by the horns. “What if the revenue pictures or forecast is actually worse in the fall?” he asked. Until this week, Toronto and the TTC had resisted calls to make masks mandatory for riders, even as Ottawa, Brampton, and Mississauga and other municipalities announced plans to do so. Maryland’s coronavirus numbers are going up. Exclusive: MTA Will Now Require Face Masks Throughout Transit System By Spectrum News Staff New York City PUBLISHED 10:00 AM ET Aug. … Scorecard from a subway car on … Easy and convenient limited contact ordering options including online and remote ordering with the Subway ® App, delivery, and drive-thru . Does Save A Lot Require masks? Gina Raimondo's executive order, which requires face coverings for people over age 2 in retail outlets, and in other public spaces unless they “can easily, continuously, and measurably maintain at least 6 feet of distance from other people." To do so Metro estimated that it needs to keep passenger trips limited to 85,000 a day. In fact, Chairman Foye took matters into his own hands and went out on the 7 line to distribute masks to riders as seen in the photo above.