Updates on the COVID-19 Pandemic: Click here to read more.
closeThe Jacksonville Transportation Authority is taking every precaution to ensure customers and employees can safely travel as we face the challenges from the COVID-19 coronavirus. Together, we are following the requirements and recommended guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and adhering to all local and state executive orders related to the pandemic.
Due to an April 18th court ruling, effective immediately, TSA will no longer enforce its Security Directives and Emergency Amendment requiring mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs. TSA will also rescind the new Security Directives that were scheduled to take effect tomorrow. CDC continues to recommend that people wear masks in indoor public transportation settings at this time.
Therefore the JTA will no longer require mask use on JTA vehicles or inside its facilities effective immediately.
At CDC’s recommendation, TSA will extend the security directive for mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs for 15 days, through Tuesday, May 3, 2022.
At CDC’s recommendation, TSA will extend the security directive for mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs for one month, through Monday, April 18, 2022.
During that time, CDC will work with government agencies to help inform a revised policy framework for when, and under what circumstances, masks should be required in the public transportation corridor. This revised framework will be based on the COVID-19 community levels, risk of new variants, national data, and the latest science. We will communicate any updates publicly if and/or when they change.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is extending the face mask requirement for individuals across all transportation networks throughout the United States, including at airports, onboard commercial aircraft, on over-the-road buses, and on commuter bus and rail systems through March 18, 2022.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is extending the face mask requirement for individuals across all transportation networks throughout the United States, including at airports, onboard commercial aircraft, on over-the-road buses, and on commuter bus and rail systems through January 18, 2022.
On January 31, TSA announced the initial face mask requirement with an expiration date of May 11. On April 30, TSA announced an extension to the face mask requirement through September 13, 2021.
The CDC has issued an order that requires face masks to be worn by all travelers while on public transportation (which includes all passengers and all personnel operating conveyances). People must wear masks that completely cover both the mouth and nose while awaiting, boarding, disembarking, or traveling on airplanes, ships, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis, and ride-shares as they are traveling into, within, or out of the United States and U.S. territories. People must also wear masks while at transportation hubs (e.g., airports, bus or ferry terminals, train and subway stations, seaports) and other locations where people board public transportation in the United States and U.S. territories.
The JTA began requiring masks in June. Review the full CDC Order.
The following are attributes of masks needed to fulfill the requirements of the Order. CDC will update this guidance as needed:
The following attributes are additionally acceptable as long as masks meet the requirements above:
The following do not fulfill the requirements of the Order:
COVID-19 Reminders
The Florida Department of Health, Florida Division of Emergency Management, City of Jacksonville Emergency Operations Center, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have expansive COVID-19 guidelines, reminders and resources. In addition to the information provided by the JTA, please also continue to follow updates and announcements from these agencies:
In partnership with the City of Jacksonville, the Florida Department of Health, and other local health service organizations, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority provides safe, clean and reliable transportation to available COVID-19 vaccination distribution locations.
The JTA has bus routes and on-demand services that provide convenient access to several COVID-19 vaccination locations in Jacksonville.
JTA’s ReadiRide service provides affordable, on-call transportation to vaccination locations. To provide additional support to the community during COVID-19 vaccine distribution, we have expanded the coverage of our ReadiRide zones. Applicable zones are listed under each location below. Call (904) 679-4555 to confirm your eligibility and to make a reservation (Monday through Saturday, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.) to get you to and from your vaccination appointment.
The safety and health of our customers and employees is a top priority at the JTA. All JTA services, including our buses and ReadiRide service, are regularly cleaned and sanitized throughout the day. We ask our customers to wear masks when riding on all our vehicles and in our facilities and to maintain social distancing.
Learn more about Rides to Health
Public transportation systems like the JTA are working every day to keep riders and employees safe from COVID-19, but we can’t do it without your help. For every action taken, we ask riders to share the responsibility. We’ve joined more than 100 peer agencies across the U.S. in joining the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Health & Safety Commitments Program.
The program defines four core categories of responsibilities – for transit agencies like the JTA, and for our customers – making this a true partnership for health and safety:
As we take on this challenge together, please do not hesitate to contact JTA Customer Service at (904) 630-3100 if you feel unsafe or see someone not following our COVID-19 policies like wearing face coverings or staying physically distanced.