COVID-19: transit service for our public

Updated July 22, 2020

Transit Terminals

Please only use our terminals as transfer points for busing, and spend as little time as possible within our walls. When using the terminals, please respect other customer’s personal space and maintain a reasonable physical distance.

Physical distancing

We ask that passengers respect one another’s space. One person per row is encouraged. Customers are highly encouraged to follow AHS guidance to wear non-medical masks or face coverings when using public transit, or in other locations where physical distancing is not possible.

On July 1, front door boarding resumed. We ask that customers board at the front and depart via the back doors. Front door exit will be reserved for riders with mobility needs.

Transit strongly encourages all passengers to wear a mask for the duration their trip on transit. Starting August 4, masks will be required for all passengers using transit and while using indoor County facilities. Masks are now available at customer service in the Bethel Transit Terminal.

Cleanliness

Strathcona County Transit is taking precautions to ensure your health and safety during this time of uncertainty. Operator safety shields are in place on County buses to further protect bus operators and riders.Transit is currently using standard buses on the majority of routes to allow operators to more easily observe behaviours such as coughing and sneezing on the buses, allowing them to have their bus changed-out if necessary. Buses will then be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

In an effort to ensure the cleaning and disinfecting practices SC Transit employs on our buses are effective in combatting viruses and bacteria, we engaged an industrial hygienist to perform surface sampling before and after buses are cleaned. The results are in, and we are proud to report our disinfecting processes are fully effective in reducing biological markers on our transit fleet! This means our buses are as clean and safe as ever to travel in. Thanks to all our bus cleaners for their hard work to keep us all safe.

We encourage you to regularly visit our website for updates on service levels. Transit operations will be assessed daily, at the direction of the experts at Alberta Health. All updates are posted to our website at strathcona.ca/covid19.

Mask on Transit and the Mask Bylaw

To increase safety on transit, the public are currently required to wear masks while on buses and on Transit property including the platforms, regardless of whether the Mask Bylaw is enacted. That said, when our Operators are seated on the bus, and our Customer Service Representatives are seated at their desks, they are behind plexiglass barriers which are an engineered control, preventing the spread of respiratory droplets in both directions. When they move from these locations, they too are required to wear a mask.  

Exceptions for non-medical mask use in County buildings and on Transit include: 

• Children under 10 years of age.

• People with underlying medical conditions or disabilities that prevent them from safely wearing a face covering and those who cannot wear or remove one without assistance 

• People eating or drinking inside public spaces that offer food or beverages 

• People exercising or engaging in athletic activities 

• Caregivers or those accompanying someone with a disability 

Visit the face coverings bylaw site for more information on the bylaw to understand when and how it will be enacted, and how it will affect day-today life in our County.

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Tips for safer travel on Transit

Transit is working hard to keep you safe during these uncertain times. We have increased our cleaning efforts both on buses and at our terminals. We are taking steps to reduce contact between our staff and customers, and to provide adequate space on buses departing the terminals to assist with physical distancing. Even with all of these things, there are steps you can take to make travel safer on Transit for you and your fellow passengers.

Consider travelling for essential purposes only	Please consider travelling only for essential purposes during peak travel times During these times, people need to get to and from work, making the buses more crowded during any other time of day. In order to reduce crowding and encourage physical distancing, we recommend that travel on between 7a.m. - 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. reserved for essential trip purposes. Generally essential trips include work, school, shopping and medical reasons, however it is up to you to decide what essential means to you.
Please stay home if you are ill	If you are ill, please stay home If you are exhibiting signs of COVID-19, please stay home.
Wear a mask	Please wear a mask - they are required on transit AHS guidance encourage riders to wear non-medical masks or face coverings when using public transit, or in other locations where physical distancing is not possible.  Masks are currently available at Customer Service at the Bethel Transit Terminal, 650 Bethel Drive, Sherwood Park.
Use hand sanitizer regularly	We recommend you carry hand sanitizer Washing your hands or the regular use of hand sanitizer before you board and after you depart buses is a good means of reducing everyone's exposure to illness. Transit recommends you travel with hand sanitizer and use it after touching any shared surfaces such as hand rails.
2 meters physical distance is recommended	Please maintain physical distancing standards Physical distancing is one of the best way to avoid contact with unwanted germs. Whether you are in the terminal or on the bus, we encourage you to maintain the recommended 2 meter distance recommended by the Province.
One person per seat please	One person per seat  When riding the bus, it is recommended to have one person per seat, unless you are travelling with members of your own cohort. We further encourage you to maintain a seat distance between you and other riders if possible. We acknowledge this is not always possible, hence our encouraging you to also wear a mask.
Use tap!	Use tap!  Touch-less forms of payment are a good means of reducing contact with others. Using monthly or day passes when travelling on Transit is an excellent way to reduce the need for handling cash and transfers. Transit now has tap available both its customer service centres, and we highly recommend you take advantage of this new touch-less technology.
Avoid peak travel times	Choose non-peak travel times if possible Riding outside of peak travel times on transit is a great way to avoid the crowds. Whenever possible transit encourages you to avoid the morning hours of 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Tips for being a courteous commuter

• The seats at the front of the bus are to be used for passengers who may have issues standing.
• If you see someone who may have a greater need for a seat, please offer yours.
• There is no smoking or vaping on buses or with 5 metres of the bus door and windows. There is no smoking in the terminals or on the platform. Please only smoke or vape in designated smoking areas. This includes e-cigarettes.
• Please do not wear strong perfumes and colognes.
• One seat = one passenger.
• When listening to music, wear earphones and keep the volume low.
• Keep all conversations at a respectful volume, whether they are in-person or on the phone.
• Keep all bags on your lap or at your feet. Your items cannot block access ways for other passengers.
• Avoid eating on the bus.
• Take all your garbage with you.
• Be patient. Pushing is not necessary. Excuse yourself when exiting through a crowd.
• Be polite. Move to the back.
• Only service animals registered with the Provincial Government under the Service Dog Act are allowed to ride on buses without a kennel. All other pets, including non-registered support animals, are allowed on board buses, however must be in a kennel or cage that fits on your lap. Kennels are not allowed to block walk ways.
• When using a stroller, please ensure the wheels are locked once on board. If your stroller does not lock, please remove your child from the vessel and seat them on your lap. 
• Wagons are not allowed on-board SCT buses. Collapsible wagons can be used, however they must be collapsed and cannot block access ways on the bus.

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Transit bus hold guidelines

Transit is committed to operating based on the advertised schedule under normal operating conditions. Sometimes due to outside influences such as: inclement weather and road conditions, construction and traffic, buses may run late and at times possibly miss connections.

In order to better assist our customers in making those connections Transit operators are allowed to request another bus to hold during peak times as long as it does not negatively impact the overall efficiency of the routes.

In order to ensure this, some rules exist. Operators are allowed to request holds weekdays between 5:45 a.m. and 6:45 p.m. if the request does not impact the holding bus for more than five minutes (this includes the time required for the unloading and loading of passengers). Commuter buses are also limited on requesting holds until they have crossed either Broadmoor and Baseline on route to Bethel Transit Terminal, or Highway 216 and the Sherwood Park Freeway on route to Ordze Transit Centre.

On weekdays after 6:45 p.m. and on weekends, Operators are permitted to request holds as long as the request does not impact the holding bus for more than ten minutes (this includes the time required for the unloading and loading of passengers).

Please remember that Transit works to support the needs of all our customers and that customer service is a priority. We will strive to assist customers in making their connections whenever possible.

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Transit Lost and Found

Lost and Found is located at:

All items found on Transit vehicles or properties are turned into the Lost and Found within 48 hours and are kept for 30 days before removal.

Articles of clothing, such as mittens or scarves, are placed in the Bethel Transit Terminal lobby. All other items, including phones and keys, are kept in a secure location.

Please call 780-464 RIDE (7433) to claim a lost item.