Fort Bend Transit announced Sept. 17 that along with more than 100 public transit agencies nationwide, it has joined the American Public Transportation Association’s Health and Safety Commitment Program, which aims to ensure transportation providers are taking all of the necessary steps to keep passengers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a Sept. 17 press release, the APTA’s program guidelines were developed from a survey of transit passengers from across the country about what measures local authorities should take to increase their confidence in public transportation.

The four main findings include: following public health guidelines from official sources; disinfecting transit vehicles frequently and requiring face coverings and other protections; keeping passengers informed and empowered to choose the safest times and routes to ride; and putting health first by requiring riders and employees to avoid public transit if they have been exposed to COVID-19 or feel ill.

Fort Bend Transit said in the release they have implemented policies and procedures to meet these program requirements, such as disinfecting vehicles daily, reducing capacity by 50% per bus and mandating face coverings be worn at all times.

“Fort Bend Transit has always made the safety of our riders and our employees our highest priority,” Fort Bend Transit Director Perri D’Armond said in the release. “Our commitment to this program clearly demonstrates our efforts in concert with other transit providers to promote sensible and effective ways to keep our system and our riders safe.”