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| No Bus Service. Crowded Trains. Transit Systems Struggle With the Virus. | No Bus Service. Crowded Trains. Transit Systems Struggle With the Virus. |
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| BOSTON — Deanne Austin, a 34-year-old public-school teacher in Detroit, woke up on Tuesday morning with a plan. She needed groceries for herself, and food and litter for her cat, and planned to take buses for her errands. | BOSTON — Deanne Austin, a 34-year-old public-school teacher in Detroit, woke up on Tuesday morning with a plan. She needed groceries for herself, and food and litter for her cat, and planned to take buses for her errands. |
| She soon learned, though, that buses were not running because too few drivers had shown up to work, leaving her to ask her 65-year-old aunt who lives in Ann Arbor, Mich., to drive her. | She soon learned, though, that buses were not running because too few drivers had shown up to work, leaving her to ask her 65-year-old aunt who lives in Ann Arbor, Mich., to drive her. |
| In Boston, commuters also faced a problem: The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, contending with anxiety from within its ranks, had reduced the number of trains and buses overnight. Angry, frustrated riders posted photographs on social media of packed trains and platforms — exactly the kind of crowded indoor spaces that public health experts have cautioned people to avoid as the coronavirus spreads in the United States. | In Boston, commuters also faced a problem: The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, contending with anxiety from within its ranks, had reduced the number of trains and buses overnight. Angry, frustrated riders posted photographs on social media of packed trains and platforms — exactly the kind of crowded indoor spaces that public health experts have cautioned people to avoid as the coronavirus spreads in the United States. |
| And in the San Francisco area, ridership on the Bay Area Rapid Transit was down 70 percent on Monday, compared with an average Monday last month, according to BART officials — and that was before residents began a three-week period of sheltering at home on Tuesday, leaving only to fulfill essential needs, because of instructions from public health authorities. | And in the San Francisco area, ridership on the Bay Area Rapid Transit was down 70 percent on Monday, compared with an average Monday last month, according to BART officials — and that was before residents began a three-week period of sheltering at home on Tuesday, leaving only to fulfill essential needs, because of instructions from public health authorities. |
| Across the country, cities with public transit systems are being forced to adapt to the risks posed by the coronavirus. While carrying out stringent sanitation protocols, and amid a major decline in ridership, transit officials must also balance discouraging people from riding and reassuring those who have no other transportation options that their buses and trains are safe. | Across the country, cities with public transit systems are being forced to adapt to the risks posed by the coronavirus. While carrying out stringent sanitation protocols, and amid a major decline in ridership, transit officials must also balance discouraging people from riding and reassuring those who have no other transportation options that their buses and trains are safe. |
| And then there is the challenge of maintaining service while also protecting those who operate the trains and buses, a task that was on full display in cities across America on Tuesday. In Detroit, the mayor announced a series of changes intended to limit drivers’ exposure, and in Washington, D.C., the transit authority announced it was reducing service in a sharply worded news release. | And then there is the challenge of maintaining service while also protecting those who operate the trains and buses, a task that was on full display in cities across America on Tuesday. In Detroit, the mayor announced a series of changes intended to limit drivers’ exposure, and in Washington, D.C., the transit authority announced it was reducing service in a sharply worded news release. |
| “Stay home,” the statement urged. “Do not travel unless absolutely necessary.” | “Stay home,” the statement urged. “Do not travel unless absolutely necessary.” |
| It warned people against using the system for nonessential purposes, adding that it reserved the right to close stations near the Tidal Basin, where there are many trees with blooming cherry blossoms, to “reduce the use of Metro for tourist trips.” | It warned people against using the system for nonessential purposes, adding that it reserved the right to close stations near the Tidal Basin, where there are many trees with blooming cherry blossoms, to “reduce the use of Metro for tourist trips.” |
| With a virus that is extremely contagious, public transit systems have emerged as a focus of concern, each having enclosed spaces with surfaces where the coronavirus can linger for days if they are not sanitized. Drivers, too, are concerned about their potential exposure to the virus, and transit officials have worried about how they would function if a large number of workers are infected and unable to work. | With a virus that is extremely contagious, public transit systems have emerged as a focus of concern, each having enclosed spaces with surfaces where the coronavirus can linger for days if they are not sanitized. Drivers, too, are concerned about their potential exposure to the virus, and transit officials have worried about how they would function if a large number of workers are infected and unable to work. |
| The fears of Detroit’s bus drivers quickly reached a crisis point on Tuesday, when the early-morning crew arrived at their garages and found that the buses were not adequately cleaned, said Glenn Tolbert, the president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 26. | The fears of Detroit’s bus drivers quickly reached a crisis point on Tuesday, when the early-morning crew arrived at their garages and found that the buses were not adequately cleaned, said Glenn Tolbert, the president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 26. |
| “We just didn’t feel that the city, although they were making an effort, was doing enough to protect us and the public,” Mr. Tolbert said. | “We just didn’t feel that the city, although they were making an effort, was doing enough to protect us and the public,” Mr. Tolbert said. |
| The drivers refused to set out on their routes. At 7:27 a.m., the city issued a statement saying that fewer than 10 percent of its buses were operating. It urged riders to seek other forms of transportation. Shortly after, the city issued another statement saying there would be no service at all. | The drivers refused to set out on their routes. At 7:27 a.m., the city issued a statement saying that fewer than 10 percent of its buses were operating. It urged riders to seek other forms of transportation. Shortly after, the city issued another statement saying there would be no service at all. |
| The drivers had already been upset, Mr. Tolbert said, because the city had not provided them with enough gloves or hand sanitizer. Once the state ordered restaurants and bars to switch to take-out service, on Monday afternoon, and hospitals began severely restricting visitors, the drivers no longer had any place to go to the bathroom or wash their hands, Mr. Tolbert said. | The drivers had already been upset, Mr. Tolbert said, because the city had not provided them with enough gloves or hand sanitizer. Once the state ordered restaurants and bars to switch to take-out service, on Monday afternoon, and hospitals began severely restricting visitors, the drivers no longer had any place to go to the bathroom or wash their hands, Mr. Tolbert said. |
| “It’s really unfortunate, and I apologize to the passengers,” Mr. Tolbert said. “As soon as they get that fleet sanitized and we feel like our safety is being taken seriously, we will definitely be back to pick up our passengers.” | “It’s really unfortunate, and I apologize to the passengers,” Mr. Tolbert said. “As soon as they get that fleet sanitized and we feel like our safety is being taken seriously, we will definitely be back to pick up our passengers.” |
| Mayor Mike Duggan met with drivers at one of the city’s two bus terminals on Tuesday morning, and in the late afternoon he announced a series of changes aimed at addressing their concerns, including increased cleaning of buses and the suspension of all fares to reduce passengers’ contact with drivers. The mayor said bus service would be restored on Wednesday morning. | Mayor Mike Duggan met with drivers at one of the city’s two bus terminals on Tuesday morning, and in the late afternoon he announced a series of changes aimed at addressing their concerns, including increased cleaning of buses and the suspension of all fares to reduce passengers’ contact with drivers. The mayor said bus service would be restored on Wednesday morning. |
| Updated August 4, 2020 | |
| Many other systems are waiving bus fares and instructing passengers to board through rear doors. And others, in an effort to support social distancing, have suspended fare enforcement. | Many other systems are waiving bus fares and instructing passengers to board through rear doors. And others, in an effort to support social distancing, have suspended fare enforcement. |
| Compounding those concerns, transit systems across the country have seen drastic reductions in ridership, leading to financial worries for systems that depend on fares. In New York City, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said on Tuesday it was facing “financial calamity” from a precipitous drop-off in ridership. In a letter to New York’s congressional delegation, it said that ridership was down 60 percent on the subway and nearly 50 percent on city buses as residents have stayed home amid coronavirus fears. | Compounding those concerns, transit systems across the country have seen drastic reductions in ridership, leading to financial worries for systems that depend on fares. In New York City, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said on Tuesday it was facing “financial calamity” from a precipitous drop-off in ridership. In a letter to New York’s congressional delegation, it said that ridership was down 60 percent on the subway and nearly 50 percent on city buses as residents have stayed home amid coronavirus fears. |
| The letter said the authority was projecting revenue losses of $3.7 billion if the trends continue for several months, and was facing some $300 million in new expenses related to the pandemic, like the costs of sanitizing trains and stations. | The letter said the authority was projecting revenue losses of $3.7 billion if the trends continue for several months, and was facing some $300 million in new expenses related to the pandemic, like the costs of sanitizing trains and stations. |
| And on Monday, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority said it was reducing service because of reductions in ridership and in an effort “to protect the health and safety of M.B.T.A. employees and customers.” Commuters on certain lines on Tuesday morning tweeted pictures of crowded trains and platforms, accusing the authority of hindering efforts at social distancing. | And on Monday, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority said it was reducing service because of reductions in ridership and in an effort “to protect the health and safety of M.B.T.A. employees and customers.” Commuters on certain lines on Tuesday morning tweeted pictures of crowded trains and platforms, accusing the authority of hindering efforts at social distancing. |
| “Nothing like taking the safe, mostly empty commutes from earlier this week, canceling service, and creating tightly packed highways to transport covid around the state,” one rider, Jeremy Banchiere, wrote. “Nice work!” | “Nothing like taking the safe, mostly empty commutes from earlier this week, canceling service, and creating tightly packed highways to transport covid around the state,” one rider, Jeremy Banchiere, wrote. “Nice work!” |
| Mr. Banchiere said by email that he was headed to work at a Boston-area hospital. | Mr. Banchiere said by email that he was headed to work at a Boston-area hospital. |
| Lydia Edwards, a city councilor who represents East Boston, where some of the crowded conditions occurred on Tuesday, said she had been told that the transit authority was facing a worker shortage because of school closures. | Lydia Edwards, a city councilor who represents East Boston, where some of the crowded conditions occurred on Tuesday, said she had been told that the transit authority was facing a worker shortage because of school closures. |
| The authority said on Tuesday evening that it would add service on two train lines and several bus lines. It said it would continue monitoring ridership and would make adjustments as appropriate. | The authority said on Tuesday evening that it would add service on two train lines and several bus lines. It said it would continue monitoring ridership and would make adjustments as appropriate. |
| “The last thing that we want to do is to pack people into crowded spaces,” said Michelle Wu, a city councilor who has been critical of the transit system. | “The last thing that we want to do is to pack people into crowded spaces,” said Michelle Wu, a city councilor who has been critical of the transit system. |
| Reporting was contributed by Vanessa Swales and Christina Goldbaum in New York. | Reporting was contributed by Vanessa Swales and Christina Goldbaum in New York. |