As part of an ongoing commitment to the health and safety of transit riders and operators, Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT), Metro Transit, St. Clair County Transit District, Bureau of Transit Police and Metro Transit Public Safety will be handing out free face masks at four transit centers on Thursday, Aug. 26, during the evening commute. Public transit riders are required to wear a face mask as part of a federal mandate. The face mask giveaway will also encourage riders to take advantage of CMT’s free Guaranteed Ride Home Program, which provides a more immediate means to get where they need to go in case of an emergency.
“Transit riders, like all commuters, can have unexpected issues arise that require immediate access to transportation,” said Kimberly Cella, executive director of Citizens for Modern Transit. “The Guaranteed Ride Home Program provides just that – along with peace of mind knowing this ‘safety net’ is readily available if and when one may need to utilize it.”
The Guaranteed Ride Home Program provides access to more immediate transportation options in the case of personal emergency, sickness or unscheduled overtime by way of a taxicab, ride-hailing services like Lyft, or rental vehicle through Enterprise Rent-A-Car. CMT subsidizes the cost of 80 percent of these types of rides, up to $60 per ride, for those eligible. Transit riders must be pre-registered with CMT to take advantage of the Guaranteed Ride Home Program. This process can be completed at www.cmt-stl.org.
Free face masks and information about the Guaranteed Ride Home Program will be distributed from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 26 at the North Hanley Transit Center, Central West End Transit Center, Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44 Transit Center and Belleville Transit Center.
This effort provides a valuable opportunity for the partnering organizations to interact with riders, strengthen relationships and reinforce their collective commitment to a safe, comfortable, customer-focused transit experience.