Coronavirus Awareness and Prevention
Wave Transit Is Taking Active Measures to Maintain a Safe Environment
Public health officials, including the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and New Hanover County are closely monitoring a global outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (termed 2019-nCoV). Wave Transit is working under the guidance of these organizations to respond to this health crisis. Per CDC recommendations and best practices for transit agencies, we have undertaken organizational measures to minimize risk and help protect both customers and employees.
Maintaining a Safe Environment
To reduce risk, we are:
- Implementing Social Distancing Protocols: Signage has been installed at Wave Transit’s two transfer facilities, Forden Station and Padgett Station, directing customers to a safe social distance. Signage has also been placed on fixed route bus seats to identify which seats should remain empty to facilitate social distance.
- Implementing a Disinfectant Regiment for Vehicles and Facilities: A disinfectant regiment has been implemented for each facility and for all vehicles. The disinfectant agent used and application method is consistent with CDC recommendations and practices implemented by other transit agencies. In addition to ongoing cleaning efforts, ALL facilities and ALL vehicles used for service are treated on a daily basis. High touch surfaces, such as door handles are disinfected several times per day.
- Installing Hand Sanitation Stations for Customers: Hand sanitizer stations have been placed at both transfer stations and on board fixed route and Seahawk Shuttle vehicles. Hand sanitizer is available to DART customers by request.
- Requiring Face Coverings: Per the NC Governor’s Executive Order and CDC best practices we require all customers over age 5 to wear a face covering when visiting a transfer station, waiting at a bus stop, and while on board our vehicles. To request an ADA accommodation or exception to the requirement, customers can contact a customer service representative at 343-0106 or our ADA coordinator, Vanessa Lacer, at 202-2045.
- Establishing Staff Information Stations: Informational tables containing educational materials set-up in operator breakrooms at Forden Station and Ops Center. Informational binders created and provided to front desk at both transfer stations.
- Creating Sanitation Stations for Staff: Supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) are available for staff at dispatch offices.
- Conducting Community Outreach: Best practice hygiene measures as established by the CDC and New Hanover County can be found on all vehicles. Communications with staff, customers and community partners are ongoing.
Service Impacts
- Fixed routes and DART service is operating in accordance with the posted schedule with the exception of one stop on route 207. As the New Hanover County Jail has has suspended all visitation until further notice, Route 207 which usually serves the NHC Jail, will now only provide service to that stop by request. If a pickup is needed, customers or NHC staff can call (910) 343-0106 to request service.
What You Can Do
- Limit trips: Only travel if absolutely necessary.
- Maintain social distance: If you must travel, keep a distance of of 6ft away from others.
- Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently: Wash hands frequently with soap and water – and for 20 seconds. If you can’t wash your hands, use hand sanitizer.
- Cover your mouth: When sneezing or coughing, use tissues and promptly dispose of them or cover your mouth with your sleeve or elbow.
- Protect yourself and others: If you are feeling ill, please stay home until feeling better.
- Wear a face mask or face covering: Per the Governor’s Executive Order, the use of face masks or coverings to help slow the spread of COVID-19 is now mandatory on public transportation vehicles, bus stops and transfer stations. Click here for information from the CDC about face coverings.
Ongoing Updates
We are committed to keeping our customers and employees safe, and will follow all recommendations from health officials. We encourage our community to seek out and follow updates and instructions from the New Hanover County Public Health Department to protect themselves and their loved ones.
Transit is Essential for Resilient Communities
As our community faces the unprecedented challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, transit provides community resiliency by continuing to connect residents to jobs, essential goods, and healthcare appointments, assuring that essential workers get to work and community members can get the goods and services they need. Existing transit infrastructure also increases the resilience of our community as we recover from the effects of the pandemic. When it’s time to rebuild the economy, transit will already be in place, and ready to provide access to job interviews, training, and other new opportunities.
Thank you to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for recognizing the service provided by essential public transportation workers across the country during the coronavirus pandemic. We are proud to provide vital transportation services that keep our community resilient!
Click the image below to watch a short video message from Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao.