Masks no longer required on buses

OCTA

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) no longer requires face masks to be worn on OC buses, effective immediately. Based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, masks are still recommended while riding public transit to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, but they are not required.

The action is in accordance with guidance from the CDC, which ended the mask mandate following a federal judge’s ruling in Florida April 18 to void the nationwide mandate.

As a result of that ruling, the Transportation Security Administration also announced it will not enforce mask-related directives.

Since early in the COVID-19 pandemic, OCTA has followed federal guidance to require face masks aboard its buses to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Electronic signs on all OC buses have read “No Mask – No Ride.” And throughout the pandemic, OCTA has updated its practices as state and federal guidance as directives were updated to help protect public health.

Keeping a strong emphasis on the health and safety of passengers and employees, OCTA also installed hand-sanitizer stations on board every OC bus and made face masks available for passengers who needed them. To date, more than 2 million masks have been distributed throughout Orange County on OC buses.

OCTA will continue monitoring guidance from the CDC and the Federal Transit Administration and adjust as necessary.