Pasadena Transit Implements Safety Measures — Again

Amidst the recent COVID-19 surge, Pasadena Transit is returning to safety measures implemented to provide the safest environment possible for transit customers and bus operators.

“Due to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases and the significant increase in ridership over the last few months, the maximum number of people allowed on a Pasadena Transit bus is back to 30 percent. A concerted effort is being made to address the inconvenience this may cause by adding service where possible,” said city Transporation Director Laura Rubio-Cornejo in a recent memo to City Manager Steve Mermell.

Safety measures were implemented at the beginning of the pandemic but were eventually lifted as infections and deaths decreased. Ridership was increased to 50 percent capacity, but a massive surge has forced the rollback.

The city reported 100 news cases of the virus were detected on Saturday and Sunday.  

Additional messaging is being provided on buses and through social media to remind and encourage people to limit their travel for essential trips only.

In addition to facilitating social distancing on buses by limiting the number of people on board, other measures that remain in place during the pandemic to protect riders and bus operators include:

• Requiring facial coverings 
• Disinfecting high touch surfaces on buses frequently throughout the day 
• Disinfecting every bus surface from floor to ceiling nightly 
• Installing hand sanitizer dispensers on all buses 
• Blocking off select seating on buses 
• Temporarily suspending fares until permanent driver barriers are installed 
• Allowing only rear-door boarding until permanent driver barriers are installed 
• Providing single masks onboard every bus (until supplies last, per mask donations made to the city) 
• Increasing service frequencies on the higher demand routes 

“Pasadena Transit services have continued without significant impacts during the pandemic,” Rubio-Cornejo said in her memo to Mermell. 

“Ridership will continue to be monitored with service adjustments being made where possible in response to evolving conditions and as ridership demand changes,” she wrote.