Coronavirus update: U.S. transit agencies enhance sanitization practices

(Source: Progressive Railroading 03/09/2020)

Transit agencies across the United States have been taking precautions in response to the outbreak of COVID-19, a disease caused by the new coronavirus.

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority today will implement an enhanced cleaning schedule, which calls for sanitizing rail cars every 72 hours and buses daily.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has begun disinfecting its subway and commuter-rail cars on a daily basis, and cleaning high-contact surfaces at subway stations every four hours. The agency also installed hand sanitizer dispensers at facilities and stations.

In addition, Brightline in southeastern Florida, and the Sonoma-Marin Rail Transit District (SMART) and Capitol Corridor in California have increased the intensity of cleaning efforts and installed additional hand sanitizer dispensers across their systems and on trains. 

SMART early this week will complete installation of two hand sanitizer dispensers on each of its trains.

In the Midwest, the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District increased the frequency and intensity of its sanitizing procedures on its trains and stations on the South Shore Line between Chicago and South Bend, Indiana. And in the South, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority announced it has focused facility cleaning on high-touch areas.

Meanwhile, Amtrak yesterday took a train out of service for cleaning and disinfection following notification that a passenger who traveled on the train between Chicago and St. Louis on March 4 tested presumptive positive for the virus. The railroad is working to disinfect the Chicago and St. Louis stations, Amtrak officials said in a press release.