Effectively immediately – masks encouraged but not required on Buses

RFTA will no longer be enforcing facial coverings/masks on buses or in transit stations effective immediately. RFTA strongly encourages anyone who is not fully vaccinated, feeling ill, or who is immunocompromised or otherwise vulnerable to use caution and consider facial coverings for their personal safety. RFTA recommends wearing upgraded masks such as N95s, KN95s, KF94s, etc., since they provide a higher level of protection. RFTA plans to continue making blue surgical masks available for the immediate future for boarding passengers.

TSA’s statement regarding face mask use on public transportation from yesterday, April 18, 2022 read: “Due to today’s court ruling, effective immediately, TSA will no longer enforce its Security Directives and Emergency Amendment requiring mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs. TSA will also rescind the new Security Directives that were scheduled to take effect tomorrow. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to recommend that people wear masks in indoor public transportation settings at this time.”

RFTA will continue to work with local and state public health departments to ensure safety measures are followed, as needed or directed, now and into the future. It remains RFTA policy to continue other ongoing COVID-19 mitigations: buses will be operated with roof vents and/or windows open to increase ventilation; hand sanitizer will continue to be supplied in all buses; bus fogging will continue until further notice; and driver barriers will remain in the buses.  RFTA will continue to recommend vaccination to employees, to ask employees to not come to work if experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, and to get tested immediately.

Given the unexpected nature of this announcement, please be aware that RFTA customers and Bus Operators may be receiving this information at different times. You may experience inconsistent enforcement during the next 24 hours as this news is more broadly communicated. Please remember to show understanding and patience with others who may not be aware enforcement is no longer required. Communications will be updated to share that masking is now optional–this may take a short period of time.

To read the federal TSA’s statement, visit the CDC website at https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/statements/2022/04/18/statement-regarding-face-mask-use-public-transportation