Community Transit Coronavirus FAQs

For the safety of all riders, transit workers and our communities, we continue to urge all riders to wear face coverings and follow Snohomish Health District’s strong recommendation to wear face coverings when using public transit.
 

Thank you for helping to protect not only yourself, but your fellow public transit riders, transit workers and all those with whom you come in contact with.

On April 3, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began recommending that in addition to social distancing, wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain may help limit the spread of COVID-19. Community Transit recommends riders follow guidance from public health professionals.

“It is critical to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing remains important to slowing the spread of the virus.  CDC is additionally advising the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.  Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.” - CDC

Yes. On March 5, 2020 our agency updated its vehicle cleaning procedures to include nightly disinfecting of all high-touch areas in all our buses.

The most active way to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 is to practice social distancing, wear a face covering, cover coughs and sneezes, and to wash or sanitize hands regularly. We will continue to follow all public health guidance on operating our system in order to keep employees and riders safe.

While Community Transit’s Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system currently meets public health guidance, the air filters on our buses are in the process of being upgraded to the highest rated filter allowable for our HVAC system. This will help improve air quality for riders and coach operators.

On April 2, the Snohomish Health District provided Community Transit with the following statement:

"The main mode of transmission for this virus is large droplets that land on other people or on surfaces they touch. The primary concerns for transmission on a bus would be: direct coughing or sneezing on or near others; droplets from coughs or sneezes landing on surfaces that people touch and then touch their mouth, nose or eyes; or infected people touching surfaces with unwashed hands, transferring the virus to that surface, and then someone else touching the surface and touching their mouth, nose or eyes. While it is conceivable that the virus from a contagious person who is coughing or sneezing near the HVAC intake could result in dissemination of the virus through the system, that is not a primary way that the virus would spread."

From the Snohomish Health District Blog post dated April 2, 2020: Public transit is no more or less safe than other public places during this time.

To read more about supporting transit workers and other essential workers, http://www.snohd.org/Blog.aspx?IID=25#item.

We are requiring that employees stay home if they are sick, that they follow guidance from health authorities on handwashing, avoid touching mouth, nose or eyes, and to cover coughs and sneezes. In addition, Community Transit is postponing in-person, non-essential events and meetings that are open to the general public, whether on- or off-site, until further notice. Exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis.

On our bases, we have implemented further cleaning procedures and social distancing guidelines to ensure we are following public health guidance.

We have adopted many safety measures on our buses to protect both riders and our drivers:

• Audio playing and installed signage in our buses to remind riders of important health and safety messages:

             - Stay at least 6 feet from the driver and other riders
             - Face coverings are mandatory
             - Exit through the back door

• Installed signage on local and Swift routes to section off seats and allow for social distancing on buses. These signs are securely attached to rope that visibly sections off the seats and informs riders not to sit there.
• Drivers are required to wear cloth face coverings or masks while riders are on the bus, and may wear facial shields while customers are boarding through the front door.
• Drivers and employees working at base participate in daily COVID-19 symptom screenings.
• Swift buses continue to board and exit through the rear doors.
• Riders board all other buses at the front door to pay fares, and exit through the rear door (except for ADA customers).
• Please continue to practice good hygiene and physical distancing while on buses and waiting at bus stops. 

Employees with COVID-19 symptoms who have been tested shall remain isolated away from others while waiting for the test results.

For persons recovered from COVID-19 illness, Snohomish Health District recommends:

For people who were symptomatic for COVID-19 (and tested positive):

• At least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery, defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); AND

• At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
• Note: the contagious period for such persons is defined as beginning 2 days prior to the onset of illness and continuing until the date set forth immediately above.

For people who never symptomatic for COVID-19 (but tested positive):

• At least 10 days have passed from the date of collection of the positive specimen and no COVID-19 compatible symptoms have emerged since that time.

• Note: the contagious period for such persons is defined as beginning 10 days prior to the date of collection of the positive specimen and continuing until the date set forth immediately above.

At this time we are following the guidance from Snohomish Health District to help prevent the spread of coronavirus and following the schedule of cleaning above. We ask that all riders partner with us in preventing the spread of coronavirus by following this guidance:

• Wear a face covering or mask
• Please follow installed signage that is promoting social distancing.
• Swift buses continue to board and exit through the rear doors.
• Riders board all other buses at the front door to pay fares, and exit through the rear door (except for ADA customers).
• Stay at least 6 feet from the driver and other riders
• Wear a face covering or mask
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. Hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol will do if soap and water are not available.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
• Avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes with unwashed hands to avoid transferring germs.
• Stay home when you are sick and avoid close contact with others.

There are some situations that might warrant a deeper cleaning which may include sickness, if there is a biohazard or a major spill.  If any riders have concerns or observe a bus or vehicle that needs attention, we urge them to please alert a transit employee right away.

Yes. We have placed signs and window clings in all of our buses to remind people of the main messages riders need to know to ride public transit safely during the pandemic. The new signs emphasize the following safety messages:

• Stay at least 6 feet from the driver and other riders
• Face coverings are mandatory
• Exit through the back door

Due to extremely limited availability, we are unable to purchase and resupply hand sanitizer on all of the 320 buses that we have in service every day.

We are disinfecting each bus every night, and ask our riders to help keep public transit safe by staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands regularly – using soap for 20 seconds, especially after touching public surfaces like bus seats and handrails.

Thank you for your understanding.

If you encounter another rider that is coughing or sneezing, avoid sitting close to them and do your best to stay at least six feet away. Current public health guidance is to stay at least six feet away from individuals and practice aggressive social distancing (avoid meetings, events or group gatherings). 

The Snohomish Health District has advised that individuals who are infected with the flu or COVID-19 are most likely to spread the illness when they are actively coughing or sneezing. However, not everyone who coughs or sneezes is infected with COVID-19.

We have placed signs and window clings in all of our buses reminding people how to ride public transit safely during the pandemic:

• Stay at least 6 feet from the driver and other riders
• Face coverings are mandatory
• Exit through the back door

If riders observe a bus or vehicle that needs attention, we urge them to please alert a transit employee right away.

The safety and security of our employees, their families and our customers are Community Transit’s top priority.

With that in mind, and in an effort to provide as much personal protection to employees as is possible, the plan for Personal Protective Equipment is outlined below, effective April 1, updated Oct. 5.

Gloves
Our goal is to maintain a six-month supply of gloves for employees who are required to use them by governmental regulations.

As long as supplies are available, gloves will be made available to employees who work with the public, including coach operators.

From the CDC: "How to Remove Gloves"
https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/pdf/poster-how-to-remove-gloves.pdf

Hand Sanitizer
Our goal is to maintain a six-month supply of hand sanitizer for employees who perform duties in locations that do not have access to handwashing facilities.

As long as supplies are available, hand sanitizer will be made available to employees who work with the public, including coach operators. One bottle has been distributed to every driver and we have bulk, long-term, orders or supply in place.

Masks
Our goal is to maintain a six-month supply of N95 – or similarly certified – masks for employees who are required to wear them by governmental regulations.

In order to comply with the Governor's new guidance for employers, as of June 8 drivers will be wearing cloth face coverings or masks. When available, two masks per week will be available for any employee who works with the public and requests one, including coach operators. Handmade masks will not be supplied, but are allowed at the employee’s discretion. Drivers also have the option of wearing supplied face shields.

From the CDC: "How to Properly Put On and Take Off a Disposable Respirator"
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2010-133/pdfs/2010-133.pdf

In an effort to help maintain social distancing among riders on our buses, coach operators are now encouraged to use the “Out of Service, Drop-off Only” option on the luminator destination signs. Drivers will monitor passenger counts on buses and when buses are full (based on our self-imposed limits to promote social distancing), those buses will use the drop-off only process until there is more capacity.

We will continue deploying extra buses, based on the availability of drivers, to help increase social distancing on routes that continue to see higher levels of ridership.

Community Transit is committed to the safety of all customers, employees and the communities we serve. For the safety of all, please follow the statewide mandatory face covering order by wearing a face covering while riding in your Community Transit Vanpool vehicle. In addition to wearing a face covering, please stay home if you are sick, wash your hands frequently, and practice physical distancing when possible.

• In support of physical distance guidelines, passenger requirements for Community Transit Vanpools have been temporarily reduced to a minimum of two people for all groups.
• Passengers are mandated to wear masks or face coverings while riding in vanpools.
• Please do your part to keep the van clean. We recommend:
• Wiping down hard surfaces and spraying soft surfaces with a disinfectant spray before and after trips.
• Staying home if sick and avoiding close contact with others.
• Washing hands often (with soap and water for more than 20 seconds) and avoiding touching your face.
• Using hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol, when handwashing is not available.

COVID-19 Updates for Community Transit Vanpool Customers 

We understand many of our vanpool customers are working from home in response to COVID-19. To assist you with paying your monthly fare, we have been offering a reduced rate since April 1, 2020 for groups that are not using their van for commuting. The reduced rate for a group is $100/month for a 7-passenger van and $200/month for a 12 or 15-passenger van. If you are still traveling to work using your vanpool, just fewer days than normal, we can also adjust your monthly fare to the daily rate.

We are continuing to service vans, and will contact you if your van is due for maintenance. The loaner van you will pick up has had all non-porous surfaces disinfected prior to your arrival. Our maintenance team will also disinfect your van before you return to pick it up. If you need to bring your van in for a reason other than scheduled maintenance, please contact us before stopping by so we can let our maintenance team know.

While you may not be driving your van to work, it may come due for a timed service. We have procedures in place to allow for contact-less drop off and pick-up, as well as ensuring that each loaner van and customer van is disinfected before it is made available for customers. Even when vans are not traveling, it is important to bring them in every six months to ensure the safety and upkeep of each van.

If you have questions about your fare or maintenance for your van, please contact the Vanpool Office at vanpool@commtrans.org or 425-438-2867. 

The most active way to avoid the spread of the virus is to wear a face covering, maintain 6 feet of distance, cover coughs and sneezes, and to wash or sanitize hands regularly. 

For the safety and comfort of riders, drivers may open windows and use fresh air from the vents prior to beginning service. The fresh air ventilation and HVAC will be determined by the driver. The air inside of our buses is exchanged with fresh air about every five minutes when windows on a coach are closed.

Riders can open windows to allow for more ventilation. Please note that opening windows and roof hatches is dependent on weather conditions and will not be opened during rainy or cold weather. If there is an airflow issue, please let a driver know and they can adjust airflow when possible.

We continue to follow all public health guidance on operating our system in order to keep employees and riders safe.