Changes are coming for transit riders in New Brunswick’s biggest cities with the removal of COVID-19 restrictions on Friday night.
Starting Saturday morning, in compliance with government protocols, masks will no longer be required on buses, but passengers can keep wearing them.
Capacity will no longer be restricted, but the plexiglass barrier around transit drivers will stay in place.
Daily cleaning will continue until the end of the year when it will be re-assessed.
One-way traffic will be encouraged on and off the bus and measures to reduce operator and customer contact like changes to fare payments will stay in place.
A joint news release from Codiac Transpo, Saint John Transit and Fredericton Transit thanked passengers for “doing their part throughout the pandemic and for their ongoing patience and cooperation as adjustments were made to changing COVID-19 protocols.”
The news release also commended employees “including administration, operators, and service personnel, for their commitment to ensuring that buses were sanitary and safe for passengers throughout the entire pandemic.”
In June 2020, the transit systems in Saint John, Moncton, and Fredericton began following a joint operational plan to ensure that transit continued operating.
Should the provincial government or WorkSafeNB need to re-implement COVID-19 protocols, the transit systems say they are ready to adjust their operational plans to ensure the safety of passengers and employees.
Transit Systems Prepared for COVID-19 Green Phase. For details, visit https://t.co/ey33PSuoQT
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Systèmes de transport en commun prêts pour la phase verte de la COVID-19.— City of Saint John (@cityofsaintjohn) July 28, 2021
