Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), and out of an abundance of caution for Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) employees and the general public, MCTS made the request hat riders limit non-essential bus travel until further notice.

MCTS is working with federal, state, and local governments to help limit the spread of the virus. Passengers who must travel out of necessity are encouraged, whenever possible, to pay their fare with the MCTS M-Card – a contactless smartcard – or use the electronic tickets offered via the Ride MCTS App. Both options allow riders to avoid cash and pay the fare without making direct contact with the farebox.

Once on board, passengers are asked to leave extra space between themselves and others. This form of “social distancing” can help protect individuals from the spread of the virus. Upon arrival at a destination, passengers are asked to exit through the rear doors instead of the front doors to limit contact with the bus driver. Additionally, everyone is reminded to stay behind the yellow line and limit conversation and interaction with the bus driver.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) advises anyone with fever, cough or shortness of breath to not go out in public. This means passengers should not ride the bus if they are experiencing those symptoms or think they may be sick. Future updates from MCTS will be posted at RideMCTS.com/coronavirus.

MCTS has implemented an extra daily disinfection process on all buses using EPA-approved and CDC-recommended cleaning products. That is in addition to the standard cleaning each vehicle receives on a regular basis. The surfaces remain clean until someone touches them or coughs nearby.

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Lee Matz

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