Phoenix Public Transit Requires Passengers To Wear Face Coverings From June 20

Press release from the City of Phoenix:

June 19, 2020

In accordance with Phoenix City Council action taken June 19, beginning Saturday, June 20, transit passengers are required to wear face coverings to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Previous Council direction was a transit-specific policy effective July 1; however, due to the latest Council action directed citywide, face coverings are required starting June 20.

To assist transit passengers who do not have a face covering in their possession, Phoenix Public Transit staff will provide face coverings beginning June 22 (as supplies allow) for riders at the following transit centers:

• Central Station – Central Avenue and Van Buren Street
• Ed Pastor – Central Avenue and Broadway Road
• Metrocenter – South side of Metrocenter Mall parking lot
• Sunnyslope – Third Street and Dunlap Avenue

Further information on Phoenix social media channels and website will provide details on additional mask distribution.

Riders are urged to plan ahead and bring their own face covering, which may include masks, face shields, homemade cloth coverings or other cloth positioned to cover the mouth and nose. Detailed information on the use of face coverings, including how to make your own at home, can be found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

The face-covering requirement applies to all people six years of age and older in the city of Phoenix, when they leave their home or residence and are within six feet of another person who is not a family member or member of their household. There are exceptions for those who should not wear a face covering due to a medical or mental health condition and for those whose religious beliefs prevent them from wearing a face covering. For full details on the Phoenix City Council's declaration, including exemptions, please visit https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom.

In many cases, it is not apparent who is exempted, so we encourage riders not to get involved with other passengers who are not wearing a face covering. Public transit personnel will be instructed not to prevent riders who do not have a face covering from boarding or riding.

For the latest service information and COVID-19 public transit preventative measures, visit valleymetro.org and follow @PhoenixMetroBus @valleymetro on Twitter.

About the Phoenix Public Transit Department:

The Phoenix Public Transit Department provides Phoenix residents a variety of transit options and is the largest member of the Valley Metro regional transit system. Services range from local and commuter buses to alternative transportation for senior citizens and special needs. The city of Phoenix funds transit, and other transportation improvements, through Transportation 2050 (T2050) - a local sales tax approved by Phoenix voters in 2015 - as well as county and federal funds. T2050 allows for enhanced bus service, transit-related technology improvements and fare media upgrades under the leadership of the Citizens Transportation Commission. Visit us at phoenix.gov/publictransit or follow us on Twitter for the latest news.

This press release was produced by the City of Phoenix. The views expressed here are the author’s own.