RTD Still Operating - Changes Some Procedures

This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

WHAT WE'RE DOING

• RTD has an updated pandemic plan that will be implemented as necessary as the pandemic situation evolves.
• Bus and rail vehicles are cleaned daily, including wiping down handrails and other high-touch surfaces with an industrial-strength disinfectant/antibacterial cleaner.
• RTD is purchasing additional sanitation products and disinfectants, including electrostatic cleaning devices.
• We are encouraging staff not to come to work if they develop respiratory symptoms accompanied by a fever.
• Employees can expect to be asked a series of questions regarding their illness to better ascertain the extent of illness to ensure the wellbeing of all employees.
• Employees are encouraged to keep their work stations/areas clean by wiping down surfaces, phones, keyboards, headsets, handles, steering wheels, etc. with disinfectant or sanitizing wipes (Clorox, Lysol, etc.).
• RTD is working with transit agency peers to share lessons learned and best practices.
• We are closely following updates from the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Denver Office of Emergency Management to ensure an appropriate response to the coronavirus.
• Effective March 12: Transit Security Officers (TSOs) will be conducting visual fare inspections until the spread of COVID-19 becomes controlled. If TSOs encounter individuals without proper visual fare, fare evasion enforcement will take place.  
• Effective March 16: Out of an abundance of caution, we are implementing a No Visitor policy at our RTD facilities. This is being done to ensure we are following CDC recommendations for social distancing and mitigating the spread of the virus. 
• Effective March 19: Access-a-Ride will suspend 5-day advanced bookings, allowing customers to book next day trips only. All standing orders from Friday, March 20, will be canceled. Customers can call 303-292-6560 to book trips if still required. This change will remain in place until Governor Polis lifts the State of Emergency.
• RTD is committed to providing service to its customers, many of whom are transit-dependent. We also recognize the importance of continuing to serve healthcare workers and other professionals whose work is critical in fighting this disease.

Paratransit Service

• Paratransit vehicles are being cleaned and disinfected daily in accordance with RTD’s Pandemic Plan. 
• We continue to work through plans to assure our customers, drivers and support staff remain safe during this difficult period.  
• No service reductions to paratransit services have occurred at present; however, the number of trips has continually dropped as facilities who are primary consumers for paratransit services have closed.  
• All paratransit service trip speeds have been slowed to retain drivers for available capacity, to provide increased social distancing during trip delivery and to allow greater standby driver capacity in anticipation of driver call-offs as more employees need to care for their families.  
• Customers can normally book appeals to their eligibility determination should they disagree with the outcome of their functional assessment. Due to the closure of Blake Street to non-employees, we are not able to have in-person appeals and are providing these customers with Unconditional Presumptive Eligibility until normal operations resume.

Bus Maintenance/Cleaning Procedures

• Using a proper concentration mix of disinfectant, the following is cleaned daily on RTD buses:
  • Floors
  • Stanchions
  • Hand railings and hand straps
  • Doors and handles
  • Backs of doors
  • Step wells
  • Walls
  • Ceilings
  • Lights and fixtures
  • All glass is cleaned with glass cleaner
  • Operator’s cab (including steering wheel and operator controls) 
• If the disinfectant supply runs low, all facilities have chlorine bleach available to make a solution as guided by the CDC to disinfect buses.
• RTD’s Bus Maintenance cleaning team consists of 65 employees with eight vacancies. Employees are spread out over three operating divisions (Boulder, East Metro & Platte) and District Shops, and cover three shifts.
• The Boulder operating division is closed on Sundays, our District Shops location is closed on the weekends and both Platte and East Metro operating divisions operate 24/7.

Facility Closures

• Patrons inside Civic Center Station and the Union Station bus concourse should board the first available bus to their destination and limit the time they spend to no more than 10 minutes prior to the departure of their bus.
• This is a temporary modification to the existing code of conduct that allows passengers to wait up to two hours for their bus.
• This change is being made in the interest of public health and safety, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations on social distancing and public gatherings.
• The agency is also restricting public access to other RTD buildings, including its headquarters, according to public health guidelines.
• RTD customers in need of new or replacement special discount cards can download an application and follow instructions provided through this webpage, which details all discounted fare programs. For questions about special discounts, please call 303-299-2667.

For more the latest information, check RTDs website at https://www.rtd-denver.com/coronavirus