(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By paNOW Staff

Mandatory Masks

P.A. Transit makes masks mandatory as seating capacity is expanded

Aug 20, 2020 | 1:00 PM

Prince Albert Transit is making some changes to carry more passengers at a time during COVID-19.

Passengers will be required to wear masks, while buses will be able to have fully-seated loads. Masks will not be provided, as riders will need to bring their own. All seats will be available, but no standing passengers will be allowed.

Since March, buses were accepting passengers without masks but required them to stay two metres apart while on board. Due to the distancing requirements, about 20-30 passengers were turned away each day.

Prince Albert Transit said they needed to make these changes to be able to supply the increased demand expected this fall with schools re-opening.

“To continue to provide service to those who need it in our community, capacity needs to increase and COVID-19 Transit Protocol needs to be adjusted,” Keri Sapsford, transportation and traffic manager for the City of Prince Albert, said in a statement. “Without the mask requirement, Prince Albert Transit would have to turn away a significant amount of passengers in the fall which is particularly problematic as winter approaches.”

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Exemptions to this rule include children under 5 years and those individuals who are exempt due to medical conditions. Riders refusing to wear masks will be declined service as of Aug. 31, 2020.

The morning rush hour route, originally discontinued due to low ridership through the summer, will be re-instated starting Aug. 31.

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panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow