METRO has received confirmation a bus operator, a contract driver and three additional employees have tested positive for COVID-19. This brings the total number of cases to 202 METRO employees and 56 contractors since March 2020.

Ninety-one of the employees had no contact with the public. METRO tracks and reports all positive cases among its 4200 employees and the various contractors who provide services to METRO. We are also conducting temperature checks of employees and others before they begin their workday at METRO facilities or on our vehicles.

The bus operator last worked Oct. 8 and in the two weeks prior, drove the following routes:

The contract driver last worked Oct. 10 and in the two weeks prior, drove the following routes:

*The charts above reflect the days the operator and contract driver were on duty two weeks prior to their last days on the job.

Among the other three employees are a technician who last worked Oct. 9,  a storeroom attendant who last worked Oct. 10 and an employee in the claims department who was last in the office Sept. 29.  None of these employees had contact with the public.

Anyone who comes in contact with an individual who tests positive should monitor themselves for possible symptoms, contact your health care provider as soon as you develop any symptoms, and self-isolate to avoid possibly exposing others, including refraining from using public transportation.

METRO is working with public health officials so they can identify and notify anyone who traveled the routes driven by the bus operator and contract driver during those time frames as well as anyone else who may have been impacted by the latest positive cases,

Since mid-March, METRO has sought to minimize the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission by operators or passengers by encouraging social distancing. On March 23, the agency temporarily suspended collecting fares to avoid unnecessary contacts.  Shortly thereafter, orange mesh fencing was installed across the aisles of every local bus to assure appropriate distancing between operators and passengers.

More safety upgrades are also being added to buses, trains and METROLift vehicles. Operators and riders will now have access to hand sanitizer while on board and protective shields around drivers’ seats will provide another layer of separation between operators and the public. Operators and riders are required to wear a face covering while on the system.

We appreciate and greatly value our riders. We have taken many actions, including working with the community at large, to “flatten the curve” of COVID-19. To prevent or minimize its transmission on the transit system, METRO asks all riders to use the system only for essential trips at this time,  practice social distancing when you do ride transit (i.e., stand or sit at least 6 feet apart, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, wash your hands for 20 seconds before boarding transit and after deboarding, cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, or cough or sneeze into your elbow, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, and stay home if you are sick). Additionally, riders should stand or sit no closer than six feet behind the driver.

METRO’s number one priority is protecting the health and safety of our customers, community and employees.

HOUSTON –  Houston City Council approved an ordinance prohibiting parking of motor vehicles in dedicated bicycle lanes.  A dedicated bicycle lane is a portion of the roadway separated from vehicle traffic with striping and/or physical barriers for the exclusive use of bicyclists.

When the Houston Bike Plan was adopted in 2017, the City committed to making Houston a safer, more accessible, bike-friendly city by 2027. Approval of the ordinance supports the Bike Plan, protects the City’s investment in the bikeway infrastructure and further strengthens the City’s Vision Zero goal to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030.

“We have listened to bicyclists throughout our city, and we are taking this step to protect them and keep the lanes clear for everyone to enjoy. The ordinance is an opportunity to promote safety and educate those who park in dedicated bicycle lanes without realizing how it impedes access. Together, we can balance the needs of drivers and bicyclists in our city,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner.

“With the passage of this ordinance, we have provided a means to not only protect the safety of bicyclists but also to demonstrate our commitment to Vision Zero,” said Tina Paez, Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department director. “The City has invested significantly, and we must ensure bicyclists feel safe while using these lanes. Bicyclists are no different from the vehicle drivers who want safe and clear roadways.”

The citation carries a $100 fine but for their first violation, offenders have the option to take a Bicycle Friendly Driver Training Class to have the fine waived. The class is designed to teach the best practices in considering the road safety of bicyclists and other non-motorists on shared rights-of-way. In order to take the course, the driver must see a hearing officer.

The ordinance approved by City Council will not require posted signage as it has previously. The prohibition will not apply to on-street bikeways where travel lanes are shared by vehicles and bicyclists and where the City permits on-street parking; i.e.: Washington Avenue.