[NFBOH-Cleveland] RTA to disinfect buses on daily basis in response to coronavirus - cleveland.com

[Cheryl Fields]

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2020/03/rta-to-disinfect-buses-on-daily-basis-in-response-to-coronavirus.html?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Newsletter%20-%20Wake%20Up&utm_campaign=Newsletter:%20The%20Wake%20Up

RTA to disinfect buses on daily basis in response to coronavirus
By Courtney Astolfi, cleveland.com
Updated Mar 05, 3:00 PM; Posted Mar 05, 2:09 PM

In response to concerns about the coronavirus, RTA on Monday will begin sanitizing buses every 24 hours. The Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority on Monday will begin sanitizing buses every day in response to the coronavirus.

Rail cars will be sanitized every three days.

RTA will use a cleaning agent approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to sanitize all touchable surfaces on the RTA vehicles, a Thursday news release said.

RTA is cleaning buses more frequently than trains because buses carry 85 percent of RTA’s passengers, and on any given day, carry twice as many people as trains, according to an RTA spokeswoman .

“In addition, more people cycle on and off our buses throughout the day compared to trains. Buses stop every few blocks and pick up new passengers. A train may go for several miles before stopping to pick up any new passengers,” the spokeswoman said.

In addition to the 24-hour and 72-hour cleaning schedules for buses and rail cars, operators have received disinfectant wipes to clean their work areas throughout the day, and janitors are working to disinfect touchable surfaces in all RTA facilities.

There are no confirmed coronavirus cases in Ohio as of Thursday, but RTA wants to reassure riders that its safe to continue using public transit.

“Here in Cleveland, the RTA is following the guidelines issued by the Cleveland Health Department and the CDC that are applicable to this region. Now is the time to take preventative measures,” RTA CEO India Birdsong said in the release.

The authority is also asking customers to follow preventative measures recommended by the CDC. And RTA says it is keeping its employees informed about how to keep themselves healthy.



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