WASHINGTON — More transit agencies determined or clarified their stance on Tuesday in the wake of a Monday court ruling striking down a federal requirement for mask use on public transportation, with most — including some that initially planned to retain a mask requirement — dropping the mandate.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration said Tuesday it will appeal a ruling by a Florida judge ending a mask mandate for public transportation, but only if the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention feels the requirement is still necessary.
Transit agencies dropping their mask requirement on Tuesday include commuter operator Metra and the Chicago Transit Authority, which initially said they would retain the rule [see “Federal judge strikes down transportation mask mandate,” Trains News Wire, April 19, 2022]. They changed course after Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker amended the state’s mandate to make mask use optional, WLS-TV reports.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority announced a similar reversal, the New York Times reports, while the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority dropped its mask requirement even though the city of Philadelphia restored a mask mandate for indoor public spaces last week.
Transit users in the San Francisco Bay area faced mixed messages. The website SFBay.ca reports Bay Area Rapid Transit officials said Tuesday they were conferring with other transit agencies and had not yet determined their mask policy, while the San Francisco Municipal Transit agency, which oversees Muni service, said its mask rule remains in place while it awaits more clarity on Monday’s ruling. Commuter operator Caltrain also said its mask rule remained in place while it reviewed the ruling.
The New York Times reports the administration’s indication of a possible appeal came after it weighed its options, which include the possibility that a loss on appeal could set a lasting precedent hampering further action by the CDC. Its decision to appeal will hinge on the CDC’s decision on the continuing need for the mandate.
Share this article
