MTA to fully disinfect subways, buses every 72 hours to combat coronavirus

OMNY at Staten Island Railway

The MTA will disinfect frequently touched station surfaces like turnstiles, handrails and MetroCard vending machines daily in an effort to combat the coronavirus. (Staten Island Advance/Erik Bascome)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With the second case of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) now confirmed in New York City, the MTA is stepping up its cleaning efforts in an attempt to curtail the spread of the potentially deadly virus.

The agency’s mass transit divisions -- New York City Transit, MTA Bus, Access-A-Ride, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North -- have significantly ramped up the frequency and intensity of their sanitizing efforts, using EPA-approved and CDC-endorsed disinfectants.

“Starting tonight we have enacted additional cleaning protocols designed to disinfect our stations, trains, buses, and Access-A-Ride vehicles. Working in coordination with the governor and state and federal health authorities, we continue to aggressively monitor the situation and take all necessary actions to ensure our system remains safe," Pat Foye, MTA Chairman and CEO, said late Monday night.

Frequently touched station surfaces like turnstiles, handrails and MetroCard vending machines will be disinfected daily, with the agency’s full fleet of trains, cars and buses undergoing full sanitization every 72 hours.

This includes 472 stations throughout the subway system, 21 stations along Staten Island Railway, 124 stations and terminals along Long Island Rail Road and 101 stations throughout Metro-North’s New York territory, as well as 6,714 New York City Transit subway cars, 64 Staten Island Railway cars, 1,100 Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North’s cars, 5,700 buses and 1,341 dedicated Access-A-Ride vans.

“While we understand the concerns over the coronavirus, the reality is the risk in New York remains low,” said MTA Chief Operating Officer Mario Péloquin. “We want our more than 8 million customers and our employees to know that we are taking every precaution to ensure their safety, starting with sanitizing of the entire system. We will continue to keep the public fully informed and we thank our frontline employees for their efforts.”

The agency has also rolled out new health guidance public service announcements (PSAs) both in stations and on trains and buses. The PSAs will complement existing advisories that have been deployed on 3,600 subway screens, 2,000 bus screens, 550 railroad screens and at 84 subway station street entrances.

Customers are advised to avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth, wash their hands often with soap and water, cover their coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue and remain home if they are sick.

“The safety of our customers and employees is our first priority as we continue to monitor the coronavirus,” said Patrick Warren, MTA chief safety officer. “The MTA is enhancing its cleaning regimen across all our operating agencies to ensure the system is safe for everyone. The best defense against COVID-19, according to the National Centers for Disease Control, continues to be good hygiene -- frequent hand washing and self-care.”

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