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 virus is to practice social distancing, cover coughs and sneezes, and to wash or sanitize hands. We will continue to follow all public health guidance on operating our system in order to keep employees and riders safe. There have been no changes related to the Heating, Ventilation or Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems on our buses. 

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, please visit: 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 also adopted a number of new practices on board on our buses to protect both riders and our drivers:

• We have installed signage to encourage riders to sit apart from one another to limit close contact. 
• As of June 8, 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.
• Fares on all Community Transit routes will be reinstated on July 1. Fare collection on Swift Blue and Green lines started on June 1.
  • Swift buses will continue to board and exit through the rear doors.
  • Starting on July 1, riders will board all other buses at the front door to pay fares, but will be asked to exit through the rear door (except for ADA customers).
• Until July 1, Passengers should board and exit Community Transit buses through the rear doors only. The front door will remain accessible for ADA customers only. The front 10 feet of all buses will be available for bus drivers and ADA customers only.
• Please continue to practice good hygiene and physical distancing while on buses and waiting at bus stops. 

For persons recovered from COVID-19 illness, CDC recommends that isolation be maintained for at least 10 days after illness onset and at least 3 days (72 hours) after recovery. Illness onset is defined as the date symptoms begin. Recovery is defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications with progressive improvement or resolution of other symptoms. Ideally, isolation should be maintained for this full period to the extent that it is practicable under rapidly changing circumstances.

 

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:

• In accordance with the Governor’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy emergency order, transit should be used for essential trips only.
• Please follow installed signage and sit apart from one another while riding the bus. 
• Passengers should board and exit Community Transit buses through the rear doors only. The front door will remain accessible for ADA customers only. The front 10 feet of all buses will be available for bus drivers and ADA customers only.
• 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.
• 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.
• Clean and disinfect frequently used surfaces, like counters, light switches and doorknobs.
• 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 posters in all of our buses reminding people how to help stop the spread of illness, such as wearing masks, maintaining good hygiene and covering coughs and sneezes. The poster was provided by Snohomish Health District.

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 posters in all of our buses reminding people how to help stop the spread of illness, by covering coughs and sneezes. 

If any 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 is Community Transit’s top priority.

With that in mind, and in an effort to provide as much personal protection to employees as is possible in a time when supplies are critically low, the agency will be moving forward with the following updates to Personal Protective Equipment, effective April 1.

Gloves
Our goal is to maintain a 90-day 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 90-day 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 bulk, long-term orders have been placed.

Masks
Our goal is to maintain a 90-day 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 while customers are boarding through the front door. 

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 a new “Out of Service, Drop-off Only” option on the luminator destination signs. Drivers will monitor passenger loads on buses and when they are full, those buses will use the drop-off only process until there is more capacity.

We are also now 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.