AC TRANSIT ADOPTS VOLUNTARY FACEMASK POLICY ON ALL BUS LINES, EFFECTIVE 12:00 AM, APRIL 20

AC Transit strongly recommends the continued use of facemasks during boarding, riding, and existing the bus

OAKLAND, Calif. – The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) has closely followed the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to support the delivery of our bus service throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on recent facemasks updates by these trusted agencies, AC Transit is now adopting the voluntary use of facemasks onboard all bus lines. Our voluntary facemask policy takes effect at midnight Wednesday, April 20.

Citing a federal court decision this week, the CDC advised that the facemask mandate, enacted in January 2021 for public transportation and transportation hubs, is no longer in effect. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) identified the same April 18 court ruling and reversed its Security Directives and Emergency Amendment, which mandated facemasks use on public transportation and transportation hubs.

While these reversals are court-ordered, public health experts conversely stress that California is one of 34 states currently experiencing a rise in the COVID-19 BA.2 sub-variant. This variant is a highly transmissible form of Omicron. Since the coronavirus is an airborne virus, proper use of facemasks continues to be a proven method to slow or stop the transmission of COVID-19. As a result, the CDC and TSA continue their collective recommendations that transit riders wear facemasks while onboard.

In keeping with our more than two-year efforts to safeguard riders from COVID-19 transmission, AC Transit strongly recommends that our riders continue to wear facemasks when boarding, riding, and exiting the bus.

Personal protective equipment dispensers at the entrance of each bus – remain stocked with facemasks and hand sanitizer – and are offered without cost to riders across our bus fleet.

Rider information, including ACT Realtime, maps and schedules, and trip planning, is available at actransit.org.