Savannah, Ga. – Chatham Area Transit CEO Bacarra Mauldin will join public transit representatives from around the country during a press conference Wednesday afternoon to help launch the American Public Transportation Association’s “Health and Safety Commitment Program”.
The APTA Health & Safety Commitments Program is designed to help public transit agencies put in place their own, individualized policies and practices that transit users have told APTA they want and expect. The program defines four core categories of responsibilities – for every transit agency and for their passengers – making this a true partnership for health and safety.
By agreeing to participate in the program, the participating public transit providers pledge to address the following areas:
- Follow policies and practices based on official guidance from public health experts and agencies.
- Keep transit vehicles clean, disinfected, and maintained daily using EPA-approved disinfectants and accepted industry practices.
- Communicate timely information about changes in service, and high-density routes and vehicles.
- Require transit personnel to use face coverings and PPE, and to take leave at the sign of illness or possible exposure to the coronavirus.
- Help riders of diverse ages, needs, and abilities to feel safe by following official guidance from public health experts and agencies, and transit agency rules.
- Ask riders to wear face coverings, use hand sanitizer or disinfecting wipes, and minimize touching common surfaces wherever possible.
- Help riders practice physical distancing with other passengers and operators, and make informed choices based on timely information.
- Request that passengers assess their own health before using transit and to avoid transit if ill or possibly exposed to the coronavirus.
CAT is one of the public transit providers that has committed itself to the pledge to passengers to operate safety by meeting the commitments as the nation recovers from the pandemic.
The press conference will be held virtually at 2:30 p.m., Sept. 9. To access the meeting, register online at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYld-CppzIvGtwrW-uLULK5QuDao5extD_C .