Statement from Craig Cipriano, Acting President, MTA Bus; Acting Senior Vice President, NYCT Department of Buses.
“To further protect our heroic workforce and promote social distancing guidelines, we are installing plexiglass barriers at all work locations, including all 28 bus depots and three central maintenance facilities. These dividers are currently being installed in areas where employees would normally congregate in performing their essential tasks, such as storerooms, dispatcher windows and maintenance Line Supervisor desks. Markers will also be placed on floors to help employees maintain distances of six feet apart.
“These efforts add another layer of protection for our frontline employees, who are the heroes moving heroes during this unprecedented crisis. Every action we take is to protect the health and safety of our workforce, including providing nearly 750,000 masks and 2.7 million pairs of gloves. We have eliminated cash transactions and implemented rear-door boarding on all local buses, with enhanced chaining measures in place to further separate bus operators and customers. On express buses, the front rows have been made off-limits for seating. We continue to recommend in the strongest terms all essential workers traveling with us during this time wear a face covering. Additionally, our “Temperature Brigade” is deployed to 22 work locations systemwide, including 13 work locations across New York City Transit. The health and safety of our customers and employees is our top priority.”