Metro’s COVID-19 Recovery Task Force’s mission is to help Metro respond to and recover from the pandemic while guiding Metro on how to truly best serve those who need us the most. Their first two progress reports, which include eighteen early action recommendations, can be found here. An earlier Source post covered the first twelve of these ideas; their six newest recommendations are:
- Allow Mask Vending: Supplement mask distribution by licensing vendors to sell masks and potentially personal hand sanitizer at some of our stations. As a face covering is now required on Metro, it makes sense to make masks as available as possible to our riders.
- Virtual Connections: Refresh, share and follow protocols for online public meetings and take wifi-hotspots to communities. In-person meetings will likely not resume for some time, so it’s important we make sure our riders and stakeholders can stay connected and informed.
- Fresh Air, Safe Travel: Assess options to improve air-flow and filtering to reduce risk of COVID-19 transmission. This could include keeping bus windows open and enhanced cleaning and filtering of HVAC systems on vehicles, in stations and buildings.
- More Biking: Promote quick roll-out of more bike infrastructure and bikes. Biking is a good way to get around and easily allows for social distancing.
- We’re Here For You: Communication campaign on safe use of services as Safer at Home orders are relaxed.
- Customer Ambassadors: Deploy non-security staff at stations as customer service agents and ambassadors to encourage safe riding (mask usage, distancing, etc.). This aligns with Metro’s goal to reimagine safety and security on our system.
The July 8 progress report also includes updates on some of the original action items as well as summaries of Metro’s latest customer survey; read the full document for more in-depth details.
Metro held a virtual public meeting last week to discuss the recovery plan and request additional recovery ideas. Over three hundred people participated in the online town hall. Comments and questions received during the meeting included:
- How Metro was measuring and encouraging social distancing on its vehicles.
- If and when fareboxes would be added for those now boarding buses through rear doors.
- Support for equity assessments of recovery recommendations (and for other Metro decisions).
- Whether Metro could adjust fares for transit and parking to take into account demand and economic hardship during the pandemic.
Decisions on whether and how to implement recommendations will be made by a combination of the Board of Directors, Metro’s Senior Leadership Team and responsible departments. The task force will track decisions and steps taken on these recommended early action items and will include updates in future progress reports.
Categories: Transportation News
“ Fresh Air, Safe Travel: Assess options to improve air-flow and filtering to reduce risk of COVID-19 transmission. This could include keeping bus windows open and enhanced cleaning and filtering of HVAC systems on vehicles, in stations and buildings.”
Mind teaching me how to open the Windows on the New Artics (not the NABIs)?? The last time I got on the New Artics (March 2020), there was no way to open those windows at all. Not sure if Windows have since been changed to allow open circulation.
Are there any new plans for protected bike lanes?