TARC: In Response to ATU Local 1447’s Concerns Regarding COVID-19
March 25, 2021
To our Customers and Coach Operators:
We want to keep you informed on why recent decisions have been made as it relates to the safety and health of you and our community in regards to COVID-19.
TARC’s buses and vehicles continue to move the city by transporting medical personnel, first responders, and other essential workers each day. It is our responsibility to also make sure that our community can rely on us to continue to get to the grocery store, doctor’s appointments and other essential locations.
TARC has partnered with local, state and national officials and is continuing its efforts to help prevent the potential spread of COVID-19 by proactively putting the safety of riders and drivers as a priority and following CDC guidelines. To do that TARC has:
Reduced service on most routes to Saturday schedules since March 20th.
Continued to monitor ridership on all routes for fluctuations, with adjustments being made daily.
Continued to add buses where needed to help with social distancing; so far on routes 15, 18, 19, 23, 27, 28, 31, 40, and 78.
Made the decision that beginning March 26th, all drivers will be required to call in for an extra bus once they have 15 passengers onboard, not to exceed 25 passengers per bus.
Fare-free service continues to be discussed, as well as back of the bus entry. We are working to ensure that this can be done safely and does not compromise the safety of riders or drivers by moving in this direction.
To keep drivers safe TARC has taken the additional step of providing preparedness kits which include gloves, sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes. TARC’s Safety & Security Department has made these kits available 24 hours/day. Social distancing signs emphasizing the importance of maintaining distance during this time have been posted throughout TARC campus and will also be placed on buses.
There have not been any reports of contact between anyone confirmed to have COVID-19 and any of our team members.
All TARC vehicles, including fixed-route buses and TARC3 vehicles, are being cleaned and sanitized daily in accordance with CDC guidelines.
We will continue to keep you informed on any decisions relating to the safety and health of our community in regards to COVID-19.
