CLEVELAND — The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) is taking measures to ensure the safety of their customers and employees, as installation of clear vinyl protective barriers began this week between operators and customers.
"This barrier will serve to protect both operators and customers from any transfer of droplets and offers an added layer of protection for everyone on board," said RTA Chief Operating Officer, Floun'say Caver.
Made from marine grade vinyl, the barriers are custom cut to provide secure enclosures from the back of the bus operator's seat to the front windshield from floor to ceiling, between the seat and the fare box. Double-sided Velcro is used to position the vinyl in place.
"We were able to quickly purchase a high-quality vinyl covering, similar to what is used on boats or on rear windshields on convertibles or jeeps. Because it is compressed vinyl, visibility is very good and sun glare is not an issue for the driver," Caver continued.
This style vinyl is easily rolled up and the Velcro strips allow easy removal for cleaning.
RTA's 80 Paratransit vehicles are also being custom fit with the barriers. All of RTA's 350 buses, including the HealthLine and vehicles from both the Hayden and Triskett district are being serviced with installations this week, with the entire fleet expected to be finished by next week.
RTA's cleaning and disinfecting protocols will be carried out as usual every 24 hours with additional disinfection provided by the Moonbeam3 ultraviolet ray technology. All RTA operators and customer-facing employees are already required to wear face coverings and, additionally, beginning May 12, 2020 all RTA employees will be required to wear a face covering while on company premisis or on any RTA vehicle.
RTA offices and all public facilities are continuing to be cleaned every 24 hours with CDC-recommended cleaning products.