Announcements

Federal Mask Requirement for Surface Transportation Providers

Posted on: February 1, 2021

Updated on: March 4, 2021

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an Order imposing a mask requirement applicable to public transportation systems, rail, and van, bus and motorcoach service providers to mitigate the risk of COVID-19.  The CDC Order implements President Biden’s Executive Order 13998, Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel, “to save lives and allow all Americans, including the millions of people employed in the transportation industry, to travel and work safely.”

Science-based measures are critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19. Mask-wearing is one of several proven life-saving measures including physical distancing, appropriate ventilation and timely testing that can reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Requiring masks will protect America’s transportation workers and passengers, help control the transmission of COVID-19, and aid in re-opening America’s economy.
In addition to the CDC order, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) anticipates issuing additional information and guidance on this topic.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has posted Frequently Asked Questions online and will continue to add to this site with additional information in the coming days. The FAQs in the general section and transit section are applicable to FTA grantees.
The Department will be scheduling stakeholder calls beginning the week of February 1, 2021.

Please share the mask mandate information with colleagues and send questions to: TransitMaskUp@dot.gov

The mask requirement is based on President Biden’s Executive Order 13998, issued January 21, 2021. To implement the presidential EO, on Friday, January 29, the CDC issued an order, Requirement for Persons to Wear Masks While on Conveyances and at Transportation Hubs, and on Sunday, January 31, the TSA issued Security Directive 1582/84-21-01.

Links
Federal Mask Requirement Stakeholder Call Recording (February 16, 2021)
Federal Mask Requirement Stakeholder Call Recording (February 9, 2021)
Federal Mask Requirement Stakeholder Call Recording (February 2, 2021)
USDOT Mask Requirement for Public Transportation FAQs
APTA’s mask page
TSA COVID-19 FAQs
Executive Order on Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel
CDC Order: Requirement for Persons to Wear Masks While on Conveyances and at Transportation Hubs
TSA Security Directive 1582/84-21-01
CDC Federal Register Notice
TSA COVID-19 Hub
FTA Stakeholder Calls
TSA COVID-19 FAQs