Mountain Line Updates Mask Policy to Meet New Federal Law
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (February 2, 2021) – The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued an order imposing a mask requirement for public transportation systems, implementing President Biden’s Executive Order to “Promote Safety in Domestic and International Travel.”
The requirement went into effect on February 1, 2021 and impacts public transportation systems around the country. Per a local emergency declaration, Mountain Line has required face coverings on all vehicles and at stops and connection centers since June 21, 2020. The new federal mandate supersedes the local declaration, and all local requirements must meet or be more stringent than the federal law. To meet the parameters set forth in the CDC order, Mountain Line is implementing the following changes to its face covering requirement:
- All transit riders over the age of 2 (updated from the local requirement of 5) must wear a face covering.
- The only other exemption will be for a person with a disability who cannot wear a mask, or cannot safely wear a mask, because of the disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The local declaration provides an exemption when a person’s religious beliefs prevent the person from wearing a face covering.
- Acceptable masks are defined as being made of a solid piece of material without slits, exhalation valves, or punctures. Masks must contain a minimum of two layers, fit snugly around the nose and chin, and be made of a tightly woven fabric. Unacceptable masks include scarves/ski masks, those that do not fit property, and those that have only one layer. A full description of the face cover guidance can be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-guidance.html
Riders who do not have an acceptable face covering and do not meet the age or ADA exemptions will not be permitted to board. Mountain Line continues to make face coverings available for those who do not have one. If a rider removes their face covering while on a transit vehicle, the driver will safely pull over and ask the rider to exit the vehicle.
The full CDC order can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/Mask-Order-CDC_GMTF_01-29-21-p.pdf.
Visit www.mountainline.az.gov/health for information about Mountain Line’s COVID-19 response and regulations.
Mountain Line is the transit agency in northern Arizona operating fixed route bus service on nine routes, paratransit service, vanpool, and seasonal Mountain Express service to Arizona Snowbowl.