ALL PASSENGERS REQUIRED TO WEAR FACE COVERINGS BEGINNING MAY 26
CHARLESTON (May 20, 2020) – The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) and TriCounty Link will return to full operations on Tuesday, May 26, with limited exceptions.
All riders will be required to wear masks or face coverings while on board and the agencies will be dispensing masks to those without them, along with hand sanitizer. Riders are also encouraged to maintain as much distance from each other and bus operators as possible.
Route 4 Airport Express and Route 203 Medical Shuttle will not return to service on the 26th, but will be back at a future date. The Route 7 HOP Shuttle will continue to operate on a limited basis for the time being. Full Tel-A-Ride service will resume June 1.
Return to Regular Service
As CARTA service returns to regular levels, staff will continue to closely monitor the ongoing situation related to COVID-19. The safety of our passengers, employees and community members continues to be our top priority and we will carry forward enhanced protocols aimed at keeping everyone as safe as possible.
All measures put in place are intended to help keep our passengers and staff safe as we continue to move through this pandemic. With that in mind, please note:
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If you feel sick, stay home and do not ride the bus.
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Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your face.
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Cover your mouth with tissue or cough/sneeze into your bent elbow – not into your hands.
Required PPE
- Masks/Face Coverings: All passengers and drivers will be required to wear cloth masks or face coverings when aboard CARTA vehicles. Free masks will be available for riders. Please take only one when needed to ensure we continue to have masks available for all passengers.
- Refusal to wear a mask or face covering, or acting in an unsafe, manner will result in denial of entry or expulsion from CARTA vehicles.
Social Distancing
- Bus Stops & Shelters: Use social distancing measures when waiting for the bus.
- Boarding: Maintain 3-to-6 feet of spacing between passengers when queuing and boarding. Have fares ready before the bus arrives to allow for a faster process.
- Aboard CARTA Vehicles: Staff is monitoring capacity levels on all vehicles to determine if additional deployment is required to allow for and encourage social distancing. Managing capacity levels is a priority moving forward.
- Seating: When space is available, please do not sit or stand next to another passenger. Seating near the driver area has been restricted.
- Partitions: Temporary barriers are in place to separate drivers from passengers. Permanent barriers will soon be installed.
Sanitation
- Buses are cleaned nightly with two hospital-grade disinfectant sprays endorsed by the CDC for their ability to kill Coronavirus and many other viruses.
- The sprays are dispersed using electrostatic disinfecting, which involves quickly and evenly coating a surface with a disinfecting solution.
- Staff is also wiping down all hard surfaces and high-touch areas when buses are cleaned nightly and managers are visually confirming cleanliness each day.
- We advise riders to try to take special care when riding and use sanitizer or wipes to cleanse any area or item they may come into contact with whenever possible
Please keep in mind that thousands of individuals ride our buses daily. Although it is impossible to keep vehicles completely clean at every moment throughout the day, what we can do is ensure they start out clean, that they are cleaned and disinfected every night and that any safety issues are handled as quickly as possible.
If you see any problems, please inform your driver immediately and/or report it to customer service either through online chat at www.ridecarta.com or by calling (843) 724-7420. Please have the bus number, route and time of day ready when reporting issues and do as quickly as possible to ensure a timely response.
