Face Coverings Mandatory for Xpress Commuters Beginning February 2, 2021
For Immediate Release: February 1, 2021
Face Coverings Mandatory for Xpress Commuters Beginning February 2, 2021
Mandate Follows CDC’s Order Requiring Face Masks on Public Transportation and at Transportation Hubs
ATLANTA – The Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority announces that face coverings will be mandatory for Xpress commuters beginning Tuesday, February 2, 2021.
The mandate follows the recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) order, issued on January 29, 2021, requiring the public to wear masks while on airplanes, ships, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis and ride-shares. The mask requirement also applies to travelers in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and seaports; train, bus and subway stations and any other areas that provide transportation. On January 31, 2021, the Transportation Security Administration issued a Security Directive to enforce the requirements of the CDC Order.
Effective February 2, Xpress Transit Services will mandate masks for all customers riding Xpress, awaiting or disembarking their coaches and at their Park and Ride lots and bus stops. Messaging on the mask mandate, telling customers, “Mask Up to Board Up” will be posted at Xpress facilities (retail centers, stops, park and ride lots) and on Xpress communication platforms (website, bus onboarding videos, social media, SMS text messaging services and e-newsletters). Customers will be required to wear a face covering that covers both the nose and mouth areas and adhere to social distancing requirements. Xpress coach operators have been required to wear face coverings since safety measures were implemented at the beginning of the pandemic and will continue to do so.
Xpress services are committed to doing its part in slowing the spread of the coronavirus while continuing to provide critical services to customers that rely on public transit. Previous and ongoing safety measures implemented by the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) include an enhanced cleaning regimen for Xpress with a combination of daily activities and sequenced deep cleanings. Xpress dispatch facilities are conducting daily cleanings of equipment, high touch areas and or high foot traffic areas using products promoted to eliminate 99.9 % of germs, daily trash disposal and daily inspections of the buses. Xpress is also conducting anti-viral deep cleanings at a rate of 10-15 buses per day with cleaning complete for the majority of the fleet by the end of each week. Bus operators are being provided hand sanitizer, germicidal wipes, and spray to be used in driver and dispatch areas.
The ATL is also encouraging Xpress commuters to practice these preventive habits including:
- Carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol content) and use it after you leave the bus if you don’t have access to water or soap right away.
- Clean your phone screen with an antibacterial wipe and wash your hands with soap and water after touching your phone.
- Don’t touch your face, whether you’re on or off Xpress. The CDC recommends avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, specifically.
- If you’re on a crowded bus and can’t physically step away, face your back towards the person coughing.
- Limit contact with high touch areas. If you decide to use a napkin or tissue to touch high touch areas, discard the tissue in an enclosed trash bin afterward.
- Sanitize your purse, bag or briefcase and keep it off the floor and other surfaces. This includes the bottom of the bag, especially if it sits on the floor any time during your travels.
Information about the mask mandate and other safety practices will be available at www.XpressGA.com. Customer service representatives will be available Monday – Friday from 5:30 A.M. – 8:30 P.M. at 844-XPRSSGA (977-7742) and riders may also sign up for alerts by texting XPRESS to 888777 for additional information.
About the Xpress Transit System
The Xpress regional commuter transit system is operated by the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL). The ATL was created by the Georgia General Assembly during the 2018 legislative session to provide coordinated transit planning and funding for the metro Atlanta region. The ATL is responsible for developing the ATL Regional Transit Plan, as well as identifying and prioritizing the projects and initiatives required to develop region-wide transit. The ATL is also charged with creating a unified regional transit system brand. Effective July 1, 2020, the ATL was legislatively authorized to oversee the state’s Xpress regional commuter transit system and the Atlanta region’s vanpool system. The population of metro Atlanta is growing rapidly and projected to add an additional 2.5 million residents by 2040. The ATL is a critical step towards more efficient and effective transit and mobility in the region. For more information on Xpress and the ATL, visit https://atltransit.wpengine.com/ and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
