Transit and Ferries

AASHTO is closely monitoring the response by state departments of transportation to this crisis. The situation is fluid and changes can occur at any time.

Updated May 12, 2020

• The Federal Transit Administration on May 4 posted a video message from U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who thanked front-line public transportation workers for their service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• On April 15 the MBTA and Massachusetts Dot said they will be working together to create temporary dedicated bus lanes to support replacement bus service during the planned suspension of Green Line commuter train service: https://www.mbta.com/news/2020-04-15/glx-update-mbta-announced-dedicated-bus-lanes-slated-charles-river-dam-road
• On April 10 the WSDOT said as part of the state’s response to COVID-19 all state ferries will continue to operate on their winter sailing schedules through at least June 20: https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/news/2020/04/10/state-ferries-extends-winter-sailing-schedules-through-june-20-due-lower-demand
• On April 2 the Alaska DOT&PF said it would delay the return of three ferry vessels to active service until mid-May: http://dot.alaska.gov/comm/pressbox/arch2020/PR20-0023.shtml
• The Connecticut DOT says that on April 6 it will switch to bus service on its Waterbury Branch commuter rail line as ridership is down due to COVID19. But that switch will also allow for faster rail infrastructure improvements: https://portal.ct.gov/DOT/News-from-the-Connecticut-Department-of-Transportation/2020/Bus-Service-on-the-Waterbury-Branch-Rail-Line
• The Maine DOT temporarily reduced ferry service due to low ridership as of March 28: https://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=DOT_Press_Releases&id=2277702&v=article2015
• The Utah Transit Authority is going to temporarily reduce service starting on April 5: https://www.rideuta.com/Rider-Info/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Updates
• On March 19, the Connecticut DOT altered its bus operations. Passengers can only enter the bus through the rear door only now except in certain cases and protective partitions are being added between drivers and passengers to prevent COVID-19 exposure: https://portal.ct.gov/DOT/News-from-the-Connecticut-Department-of-Transportation/2020/CTDOT-ANNOUNCES-IMMEDIATE-CHANGES-TO-BUS-OPERATIONS
• The North Carolina DOT ferry operations offers one example: https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2020/2020-03-16-ferry-covid-precautions.aspx.
• The Connecticut DOT offers another in terms of cleaning trains and buses: https://portal.ct.gov/DOT/News-from-the-Connecticut-Department-of-Transportation/2020/CTDOT-TAKING-CORONAVIRUS-PRECAUTIONS-FOR-PUBLIC-TRANSPORTATION
• State DOTs are also increasing sanitization efforts at rest areas and welcome centers if they are responsible for such facilities: https://www.wmbfnews.com/2020/03/13/scdot-executes-plan-keep-covid-spreading-rest-areas/