Metro Says Its Trains and Buses Will Continue to Operate

Metro trains and buses will continue to operate in Pasadena and throughout Los Angeles and there are no plans to cease operations at this time, Metro Public Communications Officer Anna Chen wrote on Metro’s blog The Source.

Metro is a mobility safety net for many people in Los Angeles County,” Chen wrote. “That includes many who work in hospitals, nursing homes, groceries and other places that are too important to fail right now. We may adjust service on certain lines based upon on-street realities, and if that happens we will update on our blog and on Twitter @metrolosangeles so please turn on your notifications and stay tuned.”

Buses Replace Gold Line Service Between Lake Ave. and South Pasadena this Saturday, March 21. Read story

Metro said it has also strengthened its cleaning regimes of buses, trains and facilities and continues to work with the L.A. County Department of Public Health to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 on transit or anywhere.

Chen advised the public to follow best public health hygiene practices, including washing hands frequently with soap and warm water, staying home if you are sick, using a tissue when coughing or sneezing or coughing into your elbow, and making sure you are using a robust, regular cleaning schedule for frequently touched surfaces, including cell phones and computers.

Metro is unaware of any of their employees who may have contracted the virus, nor of anyone who may have contracted COVID-19 via the Metro system, Chen wrote.

If passengers on Metro’s buses don’t see operators wearing gloves or masks, Chen said it’s because neither the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) nor the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health are recommending any additional personal protective equipment (PPE) above and beyond what may be required for bus operators to safely perform their assigned tasks.

“According to CDC and LACDPH, the masks are to protect persons in high risk occupations, such as health care workers and emergency responders,” the post said. “Should the direction from our healthcare partners change, we will make masks available based on supply levels.”

Employees only use PPE required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Chen said. Gloves are available for custodial staff at each Metro location and additional gloves are being procured to ensure Metro has the levels needed if and when direction is provided, she added.

Holders of monthly passes on Metro are advised to hang on to their passes until their daily commutes are back to normal. Once they start riding again, affected customers can call 866-TAPTOGO and Metro will add the additional days to their TAP cards, the post said.

For Metro parking passes, Chen said ridership requirements for them have been waived for the months of March and April.

Metro’s Transit Court is currently closed to the public, Chen said. Staff will continue to do administrative work but there will be no in-person hearings until further notice. Correspondence, including initial review requests, hearing requests, inability to pay forms and payments can be sent to Metro Transit Court at PO BOX 866015, Los Angeles, CA 90086.

For more information, call (323) GO-METRO (466-3876) or visit www.metro.net.