Skip to main content

NJ TRANSIT NJ TRANSIT

NJ TRANSIT APPLAUDS GOVERNOR’S EO CODIFYING CURRENT EFFORTS TO PROTECT PERSONNEL AND CUSTOMERS

Governor Murphy’s Executive Order Authorizes Enforcement of NJT’s PPE Policies for Front Line Staff and Customers

April 11, 2020

NEWARK, NJ — New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy today signed Executive Order 125 requiring all personnel and customers on New Jersey Transit vehicles to wear face coverings, among other requirements, strengthening the transit agency’s efforts to protect the public during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

“We are grateful Governor Murphy is adding extra authority and enforcement to the personal protective equipment policies NJ TRANSIT implemented in recent weeks for the protection of our employees and customers,” said NJ TRANSIT President and CEO Kevin Corbett. “NJ TRANSIT bus, train, light rail and Access Link paratransit service is vital to ensuring essential personnel can continue to get to their jobs and back home again, and Governor Murphy’s executive order strengthens the tools we have to do this as safely as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

NJ TRANSIT has distributed more than 604,000 gloves and 162,000 masks to employees for use on the job since March 1, 2020 and has been encouraging customers to wear masks since the Centers for Disease Control adjusted their guidance last week.

In addition to requiring NJ TRANSIT to provide certain personal protective equipment to its workers and requiring customers to wear cloth face coverings on NJ TRANSIT vehicles, the executive order also addresses a number of other directives, including authorizing NJ TRANSIT workers to limit capacity on all NJ TRANSIT vehicles to 50 percent of maximum capacity to allow for proper social distancing. The executive order also applies to private carriers that NJ TRANSIT contracts with to provide bus, light rail and Access Link service throughout the State  

Face coverings can be made at little or no cost from simple household items. Please view this short “how-to” video from the United States Surgeon General: https://youtu.be/PI1GxNjAjlw

The Governor’s executive order is available at https://nj.gov/infobank/eo/056murphy/approved/eo_archive.html .

NJ TRANSIT’S RESPONSE TO COVID-19

NJ TRANSIT continues to maintain its enhanced cleaning efforts to include disinfecting vehicles every 24 hours. Hard surface cleaning and disinfecting typically includes handholds, arm rests, seating areas and restrooms.

Our enhanced cleaning regimen in stations includes additional disinfecting of frequent customer touchpoints such as ticket vending machines, handrails, door handles. In major stations and terminals, this occurs once every shift.

The cleaning agents used in this effort are deemed effective for these purposes and contain anti-viral components such as bleach/water mixes and other disinfectant sprays. Areas regularly cleaned include are doors, door knobs, windows, benches, partitions, trash cans, elevators, escalators, handrails, ledges, all restrooms and floor surfaces and all floor mats. 

As an added precautionary measure to protect bus operators and customers, NJ TRANSIT has implemented rear-door boarding on all bus routes where rear-boarding is available. Seats near the bus operator have been taken out of service to allow for proper social distancing for the operator. 

NJ TRANSIT reminds customers that travel should be limited to essential personnel only, and social distancing should always be practiced on any bus, train or light rail vehicle. NJ TRANSIT is monitoring all bus and rail service to identify potential times or routes with high numbers of customers, and adjust routes and timetables to help reduce the likelihood of crowded vehicles. However, if a vehicle is too crowded for proper social distancing, customers are encouraged to wait for the next scheduled ride.

Customers are encouraged to use the NJ TRANSIT mobile ticketing app or purchase paper tickets prior to boarding.

NJ TRANSIT has a dedicated web page offering a centralized location to highlight the many initiatives the agency has undertaken to protect customers and employees against COVID-19. The web page, njtransit.com/COVID19, is available on both desktop and through the mobile app.

In addition to outlining the steps the agency has taken, the website also includes a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section. Posters reminding customers of best-practices to prevent the spread of germs have been installed on NJ TRANSIT vehicles throughout the system. 

NJ TRANSIT is closely engaged with the New Jersey Department of Health and other state and federal resources to carefully monitor, and if need be, respond to emergent health concerns that have the ability to impact customers and employees.

The Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) offer the following preventative steps for the coronavirus:

  • Stay home if you are sick
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
  • Avoid close contact with those who are sick
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, throw the tissue in the trash, then wash hands 

For more information, please visit the following websites: New Jersey Department of Health: https://www.nj.gov/health/; the CDC: https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/han00427.asp.

Travel Advice:

  • Before starting your trip, visit njtransit.com for up-to-the-minute service information. 
  • Customers are encouraged to download or update the NJ TRANSIT mobile app to set up and receive customized service alert information via push notifications.  Visit the You Tube video for easy instructions on setting up custom push notifications.
  • Stay connected to NJ TRANSIT social media during your commute. Search for rail, bus or light rail-specific Twitter accounts for the best information:
  • Sign up for the My Transit alert system on njtransit.com, which delivers travel advisories for your specific trip to your cell phone via email or text.
  • Allow extra time getting to and from your destination. 
  • Listen closely to public address announcements at stations for late-breaking service information.

About NJ TRANSIT

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 925,000 weekday trips on 253 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 166 rail stations, 62 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.

This document and others are available for translation on njtransit.com.