NJ TRANSIT APPLAUDS GOVERNOR'S EO STRENGTHENING CURRENT EFFORTS TO PROTECT PERSONNEL AND CUSTOMERS |
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Special Collection: COVID-19
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NJ Transit
Source: PressReleasePoint.com
11 April 2020
Governor Murphy's Executive Order Authorizes Enforcement of NJT's PPE Policies for Front Line Staff and Customers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“We are grateful Governor Murphy is adding extra authority and enforcement to the personal protective equipment policies NJ TRANSIT implemented in recent weeks for the protection of our employees and customers,” said NJ TRANSIT President and CEO Kevin Corbett. “NJ TRANSIT bus, train, light rail and Access Link paratransit service is vital to ensuring essential personnel can continue to get to their jobs and back home again, and Governor Murphy’s executive order strengthens the tools we have to do this as safely as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
NJ TRANSIT has distributed more than 604,000 gloves and 162,000 masks to employees for use on the job since March 1, 2020 and has been encouraging customers to wear masks since the Centers for Disease Control adjusted their guidance last week.
In addition to requiring NJ TRANSIT to provide certain personal protective equipment to its workers and requiring customers to wear cloth face coverings on NJ TRANSIT vehicles, the executive order also addresses a number of other directives, including authorizing NJ TRANSIT workers to limit capacity on all NJ TRANSIT vehicles to 50 percent of maximum capacity to allow for proper social distancing. The executive order also applies to private carriers that NJ TRANSIT contracts with to provide bus, light rail and Access Link service throughout the State
Face coverings can be made at little or no cost from simple household items. Please view this short “how-to” video from the United States Surgeon General: https://youtu.be/PI1GxNjAjlw .
More information on the Governor’s executive order is available at https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562020/approved/20200411b.shtml.
NJ TRANSIT’S RESPONSE TO COVID-19
NJ TRANSIT continues to maintain its enhanced cleaning efforts to include disinfecting vehicles every 24 hours. Hard surface cleaning and disinfecting typically includes handholds, arm rests, seating areas and restrooms.
Our enhanced cleaning regimen in stations includes additional disinfecting of frequent customer touchpoints such as ticket vending machines, handrails, door handles. In major stations and terminals, this occurs once every shift.
The cleaning agents used in this effort are deemed effective for these purposes and contain anti-viral components such as bleach/water mixes and other disinfectant sprays. Areas regularly cleaned include are doors, door knobs, windows, benches, partitions, trash cans, elevators, escalators, handrails, ledges, all restrooms and floor surfaces and all floor mats.
As an added precautionary measure to protect bus operators and customers, NJ TRANSIT has implemented rear-door boarding on all bus routes where rear-boarding is available. Seats near the bus operator have been taken out of service to allow for proper social distancing for the operator.
NJ TRANSIT reminds customers that travel should be limited to essential personnel only, and social distancing should always be practiced on any bus, train or light rail vehicle. NJ TRANSIT is monitoring all bus and rail service to identify potential times or routes with high numbers of customers, and adjust routes and timetables to help reduce the likelihood of crowded vehicles. However, if a vehicle is too crowded for proper social distancing, customers are encouraged to wait for the next scheduled ride.
Customers are encouraged to use the NJ TRANSIT mobile ticketing app or purchase paper tickets prior to boarding.
NJ TRANSIT has a dedicated web page offering a centralized location to highlight the many initiatives the agency has undertaken to protect customers and employees against COVID-19. The web page, njtransit.com/COVID19, is available on both desktop and through the mobile app.
In addition to outlining the steps the agency has taken, the website also includes a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section. Posters reminding customers of best-practices to prevent the spread of germs have been installed on NJ TRANSIT vehicles throughout the system.
NJ TRANSIT is closely engaged with the New Jersey Department of Health and other state and federal resources to carefully monitor, and if need be, respond to emergent health concerns that have the ability to impact customers and employees.
The Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) offer the following preventative steps for the coronavirus:
For more information, please visit the following websites: New Jersey Department of Health: https://www.nj.gov/health/; the CDC: https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/han00427.asp.
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About NJ TRANSIT
NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 925,000 weekday trips on 253 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 166 rail stations, 62 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.