As part of its ongoing commitment to the health and safety of transit riders and operators, Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT), Metro Transit, St. Clair County Transit District, MetroLink Police Officers and Metro Transit Public Safety will be handing out free face masks at select transit centers the week of Nov. 9. The face masks feature the words “MAKE SURE YOU ARE COVERED – Guaranteed Ride Home Program” printed on the front corner. In addition to reminding riders they must wear a face mask on transit to help protect public health, the purpose of this initiative is also to remind them about the availability of CMT’s free Guaranteed Ride Home Program, which guarantees transit riders with a safe alternative way home in case of an emergency.
Face masks will be distributed from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the North Hanley Transit Center, Central West End Transit Center, Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44 Transit Center and Belleville Transit Center. Additional masks will be randomly distributed throughout the remainder of the week along the MetroLink system.
The Guaranteed Ride Home Program provides access to more immediate transportation options in the case of personal emergency, sickness or unscheduled overtime by way of a taxicab, ride-hailing service – like Lyft – or rental vehicle through Enterprise Rent-A-Car. CMT subsidizes the cost of 80 percent of these types of rides, up to $60 per ride, for those eligible. Transit riders must be pre-registered with CMT to take advantage of the Guaranteed Ride Home Program. This process can be completed at cmt-stl.org/guaranteed-ride-home.
“Transit riders, like all commuters, can have unexpected issues arise that require immediate access to transportation,” said Kimberly Cella, executive director of Citizens for Modern Transit. “The Guaranteed Ride Home Program provides just that – along with peace of mind knowing this ‘safety net’ is readily available if and when one may need to utilize it.”
“At Metro Transit, we will take every extra measure to help keep our customers and team members safe. This includes special deep cleanings and sanitizing of all vehicles and frequent cleanings of high touch areas at transit centers,” said Taulby Roach, president and CEO at Bi-State Development which operates the Metro Transit system for the St. Louis region.
“These collaborative efforts play a very important role in promoting the benefits of transit – and we are pleased to be involved,” said Herb Simmons, Chair of the St. Clair County Board of Trustees.
This event provides a valuable opportunity for the partnering organizations to interact with riders, strengthen relationships and reinforce their collective commitment to a safe, world-class, customer-focused transit experience.