Beginning Monday, April 13, seating on all bus routes is limited in order to support social distancing measures between passengers. These measures were approved by the Phoenix City Council on April 6 to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and for the safety of all community members.
Passenger limits will be as follows, with exceptions for wheelchair and mobility aid users as needed:
- Maximum of five (5) passengers on smaller neighborhood circulator vehicles (ALEX, MARY, SMART routes)
- Maximum of ten (10) passengers on a regular 40-foot bus
- Maximum of fifteen (15) passengers on a 60-foot articulated (bendy type) bus
Should vehicle capacity be reached, bus operators may not allow additional boardings until additional capacity becomes available. In such cases, passengers may need to wait for the next bus.
The city of Phoenix and Valley Metro, who also operates bus services in the metro area, are coordinating a regional effort to further educate riders on social distancing while on board public transportation. The signage that will be added to buses will be consistent for passengers across this region.
Passengers are encouraged to plan additional travel time, as these measures may impact their trip.
Passengers are also reminded to use public transit only for necessary trips. We ask everyone to continue to practice social distancing while riding, including:
- boarding using the rear doors,
- visually showing fare to the driver,
- staying at least six feet apart while waiting at bus stops and
- in accordance with CDC guidance, wearing a cloth mask covering their nose and mouth.
Recognizing there is currently a lower demand, public transit is nonetheless a critical service for many essential service workers in our communities. We are working to ensure that those who depend on transit are able to continue using our system and get to their destinations safely.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during these times.
For more information visit valleymetro.org.
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