Keeping local buses safe amid pandemic

Keeping local buses safe amid THE COVID19 pandemic, 13 Action News talks to an RTC spokesperson.

THAT'S THE MISSION OF THE RTCRIGHT NOW.WE SPOKE TO THE AGENCY ABOUTWHAT IT'S DOING TO PREVENT THESPREAD OF COVID 19.NATS OF BUS IT'S PART OF THEDAILY ROUTINE FOR MANY IN THEVALLEY.BOARDING THE BUS TO GO TOWORK..OR RUN ERRANDS.HUNDREDS TAKE LOCAL BUSES ON ADAILY BASIS...AND THE RTC WANTSTO MAKE SURE ITS DRIVERS ANDPASSENGERS ARE SAFE DURINGTHESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES.SOT 3:03 WE HAVE ROLLED OUTBOARDING IN THE REAR DOORS ONEACH BUS AND THIS IS SOMETHINGTHAT WILL HOPEFULLY PROMOTESOCIAL DISTANCING ZAC PRUDHOMMEWITH THE RTC SAYS..SAFETYMEASURES DON'T END THERE!

SOT3:15 WE HAVE ALSO MARKED SEATSIN THE BUS TO PROMOTE SOCIALDISTANCING SO THE SIGNBASICALLY IS TELLING PEOPLE TOTAKE ANOTHER SEAT JUST TO KEEPMORE SPACE BETWEEN EACHPASSENGER EVEN BEFORE A LOT OFTHIS WAS PUT IN PLACE.THE RTC IS UNIQUE, OUROPERATORS ALREADY HAVEENCLOSURE AROUND THEM THATCREATES DISTANCE BETWEEN THEMAND PASSENGERS BUT THESEMEASURES WERE NOT ENOUGH FORSOME DRIVERS.SEVERAL OF THEM -- SPEAKING TO13 CHIEF INVESTIGATOR DARCYSPEARS...VOICING SAFETYCONCERNS.SOT 41:05 JOHN: YOU'RE TELLINGUS THE BUS IS CLEAN ANDSANITIZED BUT WHEN A DRIVERGETS ON YOU GOT A TRASHCAN FULLOF TRASH.YOU GO IN THE BACK THERE'STRASH IN THE BACK OF THE BUS.RTC'S CONTRACTOR -- KEOLIS --SAYING DRIVERS ARE PROPERLYPROTECTED WITH GLOVES ANDSANITIZER.SOME WERE GIVEN MASKS TOO.RTC IS ALSO CUTTING BACK ONSOME ROUTES AND OPERATING ON ASUNDAY SCHEDULE.THIS IS ALL DUE TO DECLININGRIDERSHIP DURING THE PANDEMIC,NEW