With ridership expected to increase as the region moves into the Yellow Phase of Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 recovery plan, SEPTA will require all riders to wear a face covering starting Monday, June 8.
The face-covering requirement is consistent with policies put into place by the Commonwealth, the City of Philadelphia and local businesses. SEPTA employees will engage customers to remind them about the requirement starting Monday.
SEPTA will also continue its robust program for cleaning and sanitizing stations and vehicles, as part of the effort to battle COVID-19. In addition, rider limits for buses and trolleys will remain in effect to promote social distancing, and there are signs marking off seats to indicate where passengers should sit to maintain a safe space.
“As the region enters the Yellow Phase, more people will be returning to work and riding SEPTA,” said SEPTA General Manager Leslie S. Richards. “We want to make sure our customers feel safe and comfortable on our system, and we will continue with an enhanced cleaning program system-wide. Also, riders have made it clear that requiring everyone to wear face coverings would help make them feel safe returning to transit, so we are putting a facecovering requirement in place on Monday.”
SEPTA is stressing that the policy does not require customers to purchase masks. Customers can use any type of cloth material that covers the mouth and nose, such as a bandana. Face coverings can also be made using items people have in their homes, such as an old shirt.
SEPTA today also published a new “Reopening Guide” online designed to meet the needs of customers and answer their most pressing questions. The guide includes a breakdown of what customers can expect as SEPTA moves through the Yellow Phase, and eventually to Green. It provides guidance for customers as they are planning their trips, as well as a strategy to help businesses develop their return-to-work policies.
For more information on the face covering policy, the Reopening Guide and other customer resources related to COVID-19, please visit https://www.septa.org/covid-19/ and follow @SEPTAPhilly
