Metro News

Finalists for this year’s Golden Bus Awards were selected from the year’s monthly Silver Wheel Awards, which give managers the chance to recognize their employees from each of Metro’s six divisions for outstanding achievement.
CINCINNATI – Metro will no longer require customers or operators to wear facial coverings while onboard fixed-route or Access paratransit vehicles or at transit centers, effective immediately. The decision adheres to the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) announcement Monday that it would no longer enforce the requirement on airplanes or public transit.

While no longer required, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still recommend the use of facial coverings onboard transit vehicles and while waiting at transit centers, as a measure to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

The TSA’s announcement followed a federal judge’s ruling that the CDC overstepped their authority by requiring masks on public transit vehicles in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Metro appreciates customers’ patience as staff work to update mask requirement messaging throughout its fleet and facilities.

Ongoing COVID Safety Protocols

While our masking policy has changed from “required” to “recommended,” Metro remains committed to all the rigorous cleaning and sanitizing measures in place since the early months of the pandemic. In addition to the daily cleaning of our buses, we have implemented a two-step process with EPA-rated disinfectants to kill coronavirus. Specifically, we are:

• applying an EPA-rated Tier 1, coronavirus-killing disinfectant to all buses and surfaces inside buses and facilities, including poles, stanchions and seats
• using an electrostatic sprayer that promotes surface adhesion of an EPA-registered antimicrobial
• providing hand sanitizing stations in all garages and offices for use by operators and maintenance employees and administrative employees

We also encourage all customers who are able to download the free Transit app for trip-planning and fare-purchasing, as a contactless payment option.

Read more about our COVID-19 safety protocols at www.go-metro.com/covid-19.