8 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

MTS website:

 

 

 

MTS Cleaning Procedures to Limit Spread of Coronavirus

 

With the Coronavirus (COVID-19) on everyone’s minds, MTS wants you to know that we have a very strict cleaning regimen on all our trolleys, buses, and stations.

 

Since the Hepatitis A outbreak in 2017 in San Diego, MTS started using even more powerful cleaning solutions for its entire fleet.

• All MTS vehicles are cleaned daily, with additional deep cleanings using bleach to disinfect, and other solutions recommended by CDC.
• Disinfectant is used to wipe down exposed surfaces nightly to help eliminate germs.
• Maintenance teams sweep, dust & spot mop nightly. Trolleys are often wiped down mid-day as well.
• Frequent deep cleanings are done on Trolley stations. This includes power washing floors, canopies, railing, benches, kiosk signs, disinfecting trash cans and more.

 

Starting on Friday, March 13, MTS also implemented the following measures to further help keep the system and its riders safe:

• Handwashing stations will be placed at all 53 Trolley stations, plus the UTC Transit Center
• Cleaning crews will be stationed at the San Ysidro, 12th & Imperial, Old Town & El Cajon stations from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to further disinfect station surfaces, as well as Trolley doors and buttons when they arrive to the stations

 

There are a lot of the personal precautions riders can take as well, including:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• It is NOT recommended to wear a mask as this encourages more contact between your hands and face, which can help spread the disease.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Riders can also use the Compass Cloud mobile ticketing app to limit contact with station ticket machines and validators

               

If you’re riding onboard, be sure to practice common sense hygiene. There are many resources to learn about COVID-19. You may visit the CDC website for more information and other instructions for prevention. (And if you are showing signs of illness, please do your fellow passengers a favor and stay home.)

  Other Local Resources

County of San Diego COVID-19 Updates

Handwashing Video

CDC COVID-19 Informational Video

 

[KevinKorell]

NCTD website:

 

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website, coronavirus is a respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in China and which has now been detected in more than 100 locations internationally, including in the United States. The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”) .

 

Complete NCTD web page

[KevinKorell]

KGTV-TV, ABC-10 in San Diego, CA, 3/20/20:

 

 

                           Coaster, Amtrak service reduced amid COVID-19 concerns   

 

 

The North County Transit District will temporarily reduce service for its Coaster commuter trains starting Monday until further notice amid a drop in ridership tied to the coronavirus outbreak.

 

Story

[KevinKorell]

NBC San Diego, 4/28/20:

 
 

   Mid-Coast Trolley Expansion Continues to Make Progress During Pandemic   

 
 
 
The Mid-Coast Trolley Expansion project is continuing to make good progress despite the pandemic's grip on other types of businesses.

 
Details
 
Cross posted between Rail Transit forum and Coronavirus forum as item is pertinent to both.

[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading, 9/21/20

 

San Diego MTS restores light-rail service

 

 

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (SDMTS) on Sept. 20 restored its Trolley light-rail service to near pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. 

 

SDMTS increased light-rail service frequency from 30 to 15 minutes on the UC San Diego Blue Line on weekday evenings, on the Orange Line on Saturday mornings, and on the Sycuan Green Line on Sunday mornings.  

 

Light-rail ridership continues to increase from the low levels in March and April as businesses reopen in the region, SDMTS officials said in a press release.

 

Continue here.

[KevinKorell]

Del Mar, CA Times, 6/27/21:

 

 

    Transit district to increase Coaster commuter train service this fall  

 

 

Coaster commuter trains will make a lot more trips beginning this fall, with additional daily runs and shorter waits between service, despite ridership that is only slowly climbing back from its huge pandemic drop.

 

 

Update

[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading, 9/16/21

 

FTA awards pandemic recovery funds to San Diego transit agency

 

 

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced it is awarding $140.4 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS).

 

The funds are intended to help transit agencies maintain service and jobs as communities continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. MTS provides bus and rail services, including the MTS Trolley.

 

Continue here.

[KevinKorell]

MTS website:

 

 

 

Vintage Trolley Service is suspended until early 2022 

 

Read

[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading, 8/17/22

 

San Diego MTS logs trolley ridership growth in FY22

 

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System yesterday reported its trolley ridership rose 52%  in fiscal-year 2022 compared with ridership levels a year ago. 

 

Between July 2021 and June 2022, trolley ridership totaled 29.7 million trips compared with 19.5 million trips in the previous fiscal year, MTS officials said in a press release. The transit agency has recorded more than 5 million trips a month since March 2022 on both trolley and bus service — about 75% of pre-pandemic ridership levels.

 

 

Continue here.