BART Board votes to reinstate temporary mask mandate through July 18
OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- The BART Board of Directors on Thursday morning voted to reinstate a temporary mask mandate that will remain in effect into July, according to transit officials.
KPIX 5 Reporter Anne Makovec, who was following the meeting online, tweeted about the vote shortly after 11 a.m., saying that the mandate will remain in place through July 18.
Makovec said that BART staff will have masks on hand to provide to any commuters trying to enter the transit system without one.
The requirement applies to trains and all portions of stations beyond the fare gates. according to a release issued by the agency. Children ages two and under as well as people with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing masks will be exempt from the mandate.
Station agents and train operators will not be responsible for enforcement.
BART officials said the mandate could be extended by the BART Board beyond the July 18 date if circumstances call for the extension. Details on the reinstated mandate were posted on the BART.gov website.
"I strongly support requiring a mask to ride BART to keep all our riders safe," said BART Board President Rebecca Saltzman said in the release. "I'm especially concerned for our riders who are immunocompromised, people with underlying health conditions, and children under the age of five who are not yet eligible for vaccination."
Saltzman had previously announced that the Board of Directors would consider a proposal to bring back a mask mandate on the system at its April 28 meeting.
At Thursday's BART board meeting, public comment was overwhelmingly in favor of the plan.
"I'm for it [reinstating mask mandate]. I know we are trying to go back to normal, but I remember there was a time when normal wasn't really good for us," said commuter Charles Anderson. "Since we are still in this pandemic, we need to take every precaution we can."
"I kinda understand [people being upset], but at the same time for me personally, I'm still wearing my mask," said rider Danaya Sirieon. "If it makes other people feel more comfortable, I'm still willing to do it."
In addition to Saltzman, BART board members Bevan Dufty and Janice Li helped prepare the proposal to reinstate the mandate.
"We really felt like we needed to move forward with our own to protect our riders, and particularly the most vulnerable communities," Saltzman said last week. "I would much prefer for the federal or state or the county health officers to come together and mandate this, but short of that, we have a responsibility to BART riders."
To support her decision, Saltzman cited the rising COVID cases in the Bay Area and the fact that children under age 5 still are not yet eligible for vaccination.
Masks became optional on BART trains and inside the transit system's stations last week after the state's Department of Public Health dropped its public transit mask requirement on April 18.
BART was not alone. San Francisco Muni, Caltrain, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and AC Transit all have dropped their mask mandates.