King County Metro plans to install mask dispensers on its entire bus fleet of 1,404 coaches by March 31 or sooner.
These masks meet the recent, more stringent mask standards from Public Heath – Seattle & King County. Even as mask dispensers are installed on all buses, King County Metro still urges riders to use their own masks whenever possible. Per guidance from Public Health, masks are more effective when they are multi-layered with snug fitting.
King County Metro has been requiring masks throughout the system since last May, reporting that roughly 90 percent of passengers wear masks while traveling. On coaches with mask dispensers, 94 percent of passengers wear masks. King County Metro is currently reviewing the new federal mask mandate and will continue to update and refresh policies and practices.
King County Metro first installed mask dispensers on select routes with higher ridership in September 2020 and has since outfitted 342 coaches with mask dispensers, making masks available to all customers traveling on routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 12, 13, 14, 36, 43, 44, 49, 70, 120, as well at the RapidRide A, B, D, E and F Lines. More than 300,000 masks have been distributed on the coaches to date.
Multi-layered safety approach and continuous improvement
In a quest to create the safest environment possible for operators and passengers, mask dispensers are just one of several mechanisms King County Metro has employed.
Passengers are reminded of the mask requirement by the “MASKS REQUIRED” message on electronic destination signs and bus exterior signs as buses approach bus stops, and see “Masks Required” decals in English and Spanish on bus doors as they enter. There are also posters inside transit vehicles and onboard audio announcements. On King County Water Taxi, there are signs and other reminders throughout terminals, at ticket kiosks and onboard. Additionally, all customers receive daily customer communications featuring health and safety guidance via email, social media, text and website.
These efforts are coupled with additional layers to protect customer and employee health, including disinfecting every vehicle every day, upgraded air filters, introducing fresh air through opening windows and doors, closing off certain seats and limiting passenger capacity to support physical distancing, and installing transparent safety partitions.
New onboard announcement and “Behind our masks” video
Starting this week, riders will hear a new onboard audio announcement from Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587 President Ken Price, the labor union that represents King County Metro’s bus operators and other transit workers.
“I’m Ken Price, president of ATU, Metro’s transit workers union,” says the new onboard announcement launching this week. “Masks are required on King County Metro. Wearing a mask protects you and it protects the health of Metro’s essential workers. So always mask up on Metro and keep that mask on for the entire trip.”
The new “Behind our masks” video features some of the transit employees keeping the region moving with reminders about who people help when they wear a mask.
