ANCHORAGE - Today, Mayor Ethan Berkowitz announced additional measures to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Effective today, People Mover bus capacity will be limited to nine riders at a time to follow appropriate social distancing guidelines. Additionally, People Mover bus service and AnchorRIDES paratransit service will be provided free of charge. Suspending fare payments will provide transit operators more protection against exposure to the virus at the fare box and provide economic relief to transit riders.
"Public transportation is essential for many residents. We are working to provide the service in a way that's safe for transit riders and operators," said Mayor Berkowitz.
The Municipality urges riders to only take essential trips. Riders who do not need assistance boarding should enter through the back door and should try to stay at least six feet away from the driver and other riders.
To comply with the emergency order limiting gatherings of more than 50 people, the Downtown Transit Center lobby and Customer Service windows are now closed. The Rideline (907-343-6543) will be staffed Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
These changes will remain in effect until further notice. For more information, please visit
http://www.muni.org/Departments/transit/PeopleMover/Pages/COVID19TransitInformation.aspx.
Visit
www.muni.org/covid-19 for updated information about the Municipality's actions regarding COVID-19.
###
Media contact: Bart Rudolph, 907-343-8490, bart.rudolph@anchorageak.gov