In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the City of Pasadena’s transportation department has taken a number of steps to protect passengers utilizing Pasadena Transit and Dial-A-Ride for essential trips. Transit drivers are going above and beyond to keep vehicles extra clean throughout the day; in addition to every transit vehicle being sanitized every night, high-touch surfaces are cleaned several times a day.
To help limit the number of passengers on each bus and help passengers maintain a safe social distance between each other, Pasadena Transit increased the number of buses servicing Route 20, the system’s heaviest route, on Sunday, April 19:
- Route 20 weekdays: every 15 minutes.
- Route 20 Saturdays & Sundays: 20-30 minute service.
- Route 10: every 30 minutes.
Other actions that have been taken to facilitate social distancing include:
- Rear door boarding to minimize contact between passengers and the driver.
- Free fare to minimize contact between passengers and the driver.
- Taping off select seats on buses to encourage social distancing.
Finally, in accordance with the City of Pasadena health order, passengers must wear a clean cloth face covering over their nose and mouth while on board a Pasadena Transit or Dial-A-Ride vehicle. “As essential workers, our drivers are also wearing face coverings. Their face covering protects you, and yours protects them,” says Transit Manager Valerie Gibson.
Pasadena Dial-A-Ride is still running regular hours and transporting members for their essential errands, including grocery and medical trips. Special scheduling accommodations are also being made to help people visit grocery stores during designated “senior hours.” In addition, Dial-A-Ride is working with the Foothill Unity Food Bank to deliver food from the food bank to members’ homes.
Dial-A-Ride is available for seniors 60 and over and those under 60 with disabilities who are residents of Pasadena, Altadena, San Marino and parts of unincorporated Los Angeles County in the San Gabriel Valley. Anyone interested in using Dial-A-Ride should call (626) 744-4094 to become a member. Leave a message, and your call will be returned between the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
