On September 7th, NY Governor Kathy Hochul, announced that public transportation would no longer require masks. CENTRO, the public transportation company for Central New York, got rid of their mandate that same day.
SYRACUSE, NY (NCC News)-The Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (CENTRO) no longer requires face covering inside its buses. CENTRO is the main provider of bus transportation in Central New York and provides services to Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga, and Oneida counties.
The decision from CENTRO comes as New York Governor, Kathy Hochul, announced on September 7th that public transit across the state would no longer mandate face coverings. Instead, residents across the state can choose whether or not they want to wear a face covering.
CENTRO Chief Executive Officer, Brian Schultz, said in a statement posted to twitter that he “encourages everyone to respect the personal decision of all on this issue as we move forward.”
Syracuse resident Trinity Sparks, says she is glad to see the mandates lifted. Sparks, “feels safe riding the bus, as long as those who are sick continue to mask up.”
Although COVID-19 cases have gone up across Syracuse University’s campus the past few days, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations rates across the state have continued to decline. With companies such as Amtrak, Uber, American Airlines, and more dropping mask mandates in previous months, Hochul’s decision is another sign that the transportation industry is returning to “normal.”
Transcript
THE SOUNDS OF BUSSES ARE CONSTANTLY RINGING THROUGHOUT CENTRAL NEW YORK. THE CENTRAL NEW YORK REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY PROVIDES RIDES FOR RESIDENTS OF ALL 5 CNY COUNTIES. AND AFTER 2 YEARS OF REQUIRING MASKS ON THEIR BUSes, CENTRO IS NO LONGER concerned with FACE COVERINGS.
LAST WEEK GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL ANNOUNCED SHE WAS ENDING THE STATES FACE COVERING REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. MANY ACROSS THE state ARE CONCERNED THAT THE LOWERING OF RESTRICTIONS WILL LEAD TO INCREASED COVID-19 CASES.
HOWEVER FOR SYRACUSE RESIDENT, VINCENT FRENZA, HE BELIEVES IF YOU FEEL GOOD YOU SHOULDN’T NEED A MASK.
TRINITY SPARKS ANOTHER SYRACUSE RESIDENT AND CENTRO PASSENGER SAID THE CHANGE DOES NOT IMPACT THE SAFETY SHE FEELS WHILE RIDING
SOT (:07)
CENTRO CEO BRIAN SCHULTZ SAYS THAT HE “I thank our customers and employees for their adherence to the mask mandate since the pandemic began. We encourage everyone to respect the personal decision of all on this issue as we move forward.”