CA Drops Mask Transit Requirement After Federal Mandate Struck Down

CALIFORNIA — California will no longer require masks on public transit and at transit hubs like bus stops and airports following the federal mask mandate for transit being struck down this week.

California Department of Public Health Director and state Public Health Officer Dr. Tomas Aragon said in a statement Wednesday that the state has modified its masking guidance to align with that of federal health officials.

"Going forward, California will strongly recommend masks on all public transportation and in transit hubs, including bus and train stations, ferry terminals and airports," Aragon said. "These crowded settings should be considered high risk and may often not have adequate ventilation, an additional layer of protection against the virus."

Transit agencies across the state have scrambled this week to determine their immediate masking policies after a U.S. district court judge on Monday struck down the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's mask requirement for public transit and airplanes.

The CDC had previously announced an extension of the mandate through May 3 to allow more time to study the omicron subvariant BA.2, which now comprises more than 85 percent of COVID-19 cases in the U.S.

Federal officials have said they are considering appealing the district court judge's ruling, but have yet to announce a formal decision.

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority dropped its mask mandate Wednesday for riders and employees, as did the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District.

VTA officials said masks will still be strongly recommended on buses, light rail and paratransit vehicles, but that they will not be required by the agency.

BART has yet to determine the future of their mask requirement but said in a statement Wednesday morning that the agency was waiting in part on an announcement from the state on its transit mask requirement.

"BART hasn't made an official or final determination if a mask mandate will continue on BART," the transit agency said. "Once we make an official determination, we will communicate it."

Other Bay Area transit agencies, including the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, Caltrain and Solano County Transit have also said they will either keep their own mask mandates for the time being or wait for more guidance from state and federal health officials.
Aragon noted in his statement that high-quality masks continue to be an effective method of preventing the spread and contraction of COVID.

"We continue to monitor federal action on this issue and will announce any additional changes to state policies as needed," he said.

To the south, mask-wearing mandates on rail and bus lines were slowly lifted Tuesday in response to a federal judge's ruling, with face coverings now being deemed a strong recommendation rather than a requirement.

After continuing to enforce the mask requirement on its buses and trains for much of the day, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced late Tuesday afternoon it was scrapping the mandate for passengers and drivers.

"However, it is important to recognize that we still live in a pandemic, thus face masks will continue to be strongly recommended on public transit to keep ourselves and those around us safe," County Supervisor Hilda Solis, who chairs the Metro Board of Directors, said in a statement. "I urge our residents to continue to remain vigilant and look out for one another as we move forward."

Mask-wearing requirements on transit operations were thrown into doubt Monday when U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Florida issued a ruling saying the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had exceeded its authority by mandating face-coverings on mass transportation.

Most major airlines -- including Southwest, Delta Air Lines, American and United -- quickly made mask-wearing optional in response to the ruling. The Transportation Security Administration also announced that it would no longer enforce the mask rule at airports -- hence face coverings are now optional at Los Angeles International Airport, Hollywood Burbank Airport and John Wayne Airport in Orange County.

The Orange County Transportation Authority also announced Tuesday it will no longer require passengers to wear masks on its buses, although face coverings are still recommended.
Metrolink officials also opted to drop the mandate on its commuter rail lines and stations, making it only a recommendation.

The ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft also dropped its mask mandates for drivers and passengers, saying face coverings are still recommended.

As of late Tuesday afternoon, the Los Angeles city Department of Transportation was still asking passengers to wear masks on its DASH and Commuter Express buses. Some other city transit agencies were also still maintaining the requirements, including Torrance Transit, Culver City Bus and Santa Monica Big Blue Bus.

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