CTA, Metra, Chicago airports end mask mandates after Gov. Pritzker lifts order
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker announced Tuesday that he will end the state's mask requirement on public transit – in line with the end of the federal mask mandate.
Thus, masks will no longer be required on public transit, in public transit hubs, or at airports. However, local municipalities can make and keep their own COVID-19 mitigation rules – including continued mask requirements on public transportation.
"I'm proud of the work our state has done to fight COVID-19 and protect our most vulnerable," Pritzker said in a news release. "I continue to urge Illinoisans to follow CDC guidelines and, most importantly, get vaccinated to protect yourself and others."
"IDPH is closely monitoring the status of COVID-19 throughout Illinois and working with our local public health partners to keep the public informed," Acting Illinois Department of Public Health Director Amaal Tokars said in the release. "The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is to remain up-to-date on your vaccinations, and that includes booster shots, especially for those who are at risk for more severe health outcomes."
Following the governor's announcement, the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, and Pace all announced they were ending their mask mandates. The Chicago Department of Aviation also announced its mask mandate will be lifted.
The Chicago Department of Aviation released this statement:
"In order to align with recent changes in state and federal guidelines, the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) will no longer require masks at O'Hare and Midway International Airports. Those who wish to continue masking are encouraged to do so. Please be kind and courteous to fellow passengers as we continue to welcome folks back to Chicago's airports."
The CTA released this statement:
"In order to align with State guidance, CTA will no longer be requiring masks on public transit. Those who wish to continue masking are encouraged to do so. Please be kind and courteous to fellow riders as we continue to welcome folks back to the CTA."
Pace released this statement:
"In response to Gov. J.B. Pritzker's announcement, masks will be welcome but not required on Pace buses or at facilities effective immediately. Please be courteous and kind toward your fellow riders and bus operators as this has been a difficult period for everyone.
"Let's all do what we can to help each other on the way back. Thank you for your continued support and cooperation."
Metra was the first to announce its mask mandate would end immediately. The rail agency released this statement:
"Given Gov. J.B. Pritzker's announcement, starting immediately, masks will be welcome but not required while traveling on Metra trains. They remain an important preventive measure against COVID-19. We are asking everyone to please be courteous and kind toward your fellow riders and understanding of their needs and choices. This has been a difficult period for everyone – let's all do what we can to help each other on the way back."
CBS 2's Meredith Barack spoke to a handful of CTA riders who all said they will continue to wear a mask while on the train anyway.
"I've been taking the 'L' throughout the pandemic so from March of 2020. I've been taking the 'L' even when it was only me and mostly homeless people on the L - so I've kind of seen it all," said Catherine Simmons Gill, "but yes, I'm wearing a mask."
On the other side of the farebox, Chris Stevens has been driving CTA buses in Chicago for 20 years – and he says masking made his job more complicated.
"It's been an ongoing issue since COVID first started," Stevens told CBS 2's Marissa Perlman.
During the pandemic, Stevens has called himself an informer – not an enforcer.
"To try and enforce it, it brings about an issue where my safety might be in jeopardy," Stevens said.
But now with masks no longer mandatory on any public transportation in Illinois, Stevens says he now depends on a thin plastic barrier between him and his now-maskless passengers to keep him safe.
"I can only do what I need to do to protect myself and my loved ones," Stevens said.
Meanwhile on the train home from work, passengers started to get word of the end of the mandate. Some of them ditched their masks getting on and off trains, while some did not.
"I think it's great. I'm actually kind of happy for it myself," said Metra rider Rich Rivera. "I was getting kind of tired of it."
"I might just wear it… just for the normality of it," said Metra rider Louis Scarlati.
"If you are sick, you should wear it," said Hannah Gueye, who had a mask on.
A decision ending the federal mask mandate on aircraft and public transit was issued Monday by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Tampa. The decision said the order exceeds the authority of U.S. health officials, and that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) improperly failed to justify its decision and did not follow proper rulemaking according to the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).
The Trump-nominated judge also wrote that the court "accepts the CDC's policy determination that requiring masks will limit COVID-19 transmission and will thus decrease the serious illnesses and death that COVID-19 occasions" but "that finding by itself is not sufficient to establish good cause."
Afterward, the Transportation Security Administration said it would not go on enforcing the mandate, and numerous airlines announced that their mask requirements were ending effective immediately. Some airline passengers took off their masks in mid-flight.
Amtrak also said late Monday that masks would no longer be required. However, the CTA, Metra, and Pace all initially said they would keep the mask mandate in place. Metra specifically cited Gov. Pritzker's order as the reason.
DePaul University transportation professor Joe Schwieterman said the governor's move sheds light on public opinion.
"Public sentiment is side of lifting the mandate, despite the new variant," he said. The BA.2 subvariant of Omicron has become dominant and has been sending COVID-19 cases upward again.
Schwieterman also says public transportation authorities have now been put in a tough position – if COVID numbers grow, and there comes a time when leaders want to mask mandates back, it may be a tough sell.
"We're in a real difficult transition period, because enforcing the mandate, for agencies that are opting to do that, becomes more difficult," he said.
During a question-and-answer session after a City Club speech she gave Tuesday before the airports and rail agencies announced they would drop their mask mandates, Mayor Lori Lightfoot suggested the CTA and airports could soon go mask optional. But at the time. she said the city was still conferring on the subject.
"I believe that where we will end up is we're going to recommend that people who feel comfortable, and feel like they need to wear masks, continue to wear masks, and make sure frankly that we're being respectful of people who are making those decisions," the mayor said. "Same, and I'll just add it, with our airports. There are a number of people who are just not ever going to feel comfortable again not wearing a mask in those kinds of public spaces, but I can tell you, for the foreseeable future, for myself, I'm not getting on a plane without a mask."
The lifting of mask mandates on public transit coinciding with concerns about the rise of the BA.2 variant has made for some peculiar situations elsewhere in the country. In Philadelphia, an indoor mask mandate was reinstated on Monday – but masks are now no longer required on SEPTA trains.
The Biden administration said it will only appeal the ruling that ended the federal mask mandate if the CDC believes the mandate is still needed.
