Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce
  • MEMBERSHIP
    • Membership Directory
    • Member Login
    • Join the Chamber
    • Membership Features
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
    • Stakeholder, Leader, & Growth Level Members >
      • Stakeholder and Leader Profiles
  • EVENTS
    • Chamber Calendar
    • Annual Events >
      • Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon
      • Women in Business Conference >
        • Call for Speakers - Tri-Cities Women in Business Conference
        • ATHENA Awards
      • Washington Workplace Summit
      • State of the Cities
      • Elected Leaders Reception
      • Tri-Cities Day at the Capitol
      • Bridging Partnerships Small Business Symposium
    • Monthly Membership Luncheon
    • Business After Hours
    • Ribbon Cutting Request
  • PROGRAMS & SERVICES
    • Ambassador Club
    • Ask the Experts
    • Business Builders Resource Roundtable
    • Business Resource Navigator
    • LEARN Groups
    • Member Advertising Opportunities
    • myTRI 2030
    • Office Depot Savings Program
    • Washington APEX Accelerator >
      • Meet the Buyer
      • Yes, You Can! Contracts with the Government
    • Workforce & Education >
      • Tri-Cities Regional Career Signing Day
      • Washington Workforce Portal
      • Job Board
  • Advocacy
    • Legislative Action and Advocacy
    • Business Advocacy Letters
    • 2025 State Budget
    • Vote for Business
    • 2025 Scorecard
  • NEWS
    • Press Releases
    • In the News
    • Blog
    • Member News
    • Annual Report
    • Email Updates
    • Website Sponsors
  • ABOUT US
    • Contact
    • Our Leadership
    • Our Team
    • Committees
    • Policies
    • Tri-Cities Strategic Alliance Partners >
      • Benton-Franklin Council of Governments
      • TRIDEC
      • Visit Tri-Cities
    • Tri-Cities Community Map
    • Built for Prosperity - Strategic Plan 2024-2026

MEMBER NEWS

Ben Franklin Transit - Face Masks Now Required by Federal Law on Public Transit

2/10/2021

0 Comments

 
Ben Franklin Transit (BFT) is following requirements from the Emergency Order issued by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on January 29, 2021, and as supported by a Security Directive from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on January 31, 2021. In effect until further notice, the Order mandates the wearing of face masks on all public transportation nationwide to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

The federal face mask mandate applies to all BFT vehicles and at all BFT transit facilities. BFT has required face coverings on all vehicles and at all facilities, including transit centers, since early in the pandemic. BFT continues to closely adhere to mandates, proclamations, and health authority guidance at the federal, state, and local levels to support the safe mobility of the community. The federal mandate further heightens and underscores the critical nature of full compliance with mask requirements aboard public transit.

Mask Requirements Under the Federal Order
Passengers and employees on BFT vehicles and at all BFT transit facilities must follow the Order’s face mask requirements.
According to the CDC, the following are attributes of masks needed to fulfill the requirements of the Order:
  • Face masks should cover the nose and mouth and fit snugly against the sides without gaps.
  • Face masks can be either manufactured or homemade and should be a solid piece of material without slits, exhalation valves, or punctures.
  • While medical masks and N-95 respirators fulfill CDC and TSA’s requirements, face shields and/or goggles are not an acceptable substitute for the use of a mask; however, they may be used in addition to an acceptable mask.

Mask Exemption Requirements
Any passenger wishing to use BFT services without a mask due to a medical exemption must show exemption documentation each time they ride. If they cannot provide documentation, they can choose to be provided a mask by BFT to continue their trip or discontinue their trip at that time.

Face mask exemptions include:
  • Travelers under the age of 2 years old.
  • Those with a disability who cannot wear a mask or cannot safely wear a mask because of the disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
  • Those for whom a mask would create a risk to workplace health, safety, or job duty as determined by relevant workplace safety guidelines or federal regulations.

Ongoing Commitment to Safety and Cleanliness
Early in the pandemic, BFT implemented various safety measures across all services and operations to protect their front-line employees and passengers. BFT remains committed to providing safe, excellent transportation services to the community by continuing to implement enhanced cleaning and safety measures.

These efforts include, but are not limited to, the daily sanitizing of vehicles, as well as additional sanitization of high-touch surfaces on vehicles, at transit centers, and BFT facilities. Rider capacity limits on vehicles continue to allow onboard distancing, and BFT will continue rear-door bus entry and operating fare-free until further notice. BFT’s most recent safety measure information can be found at bft.org/Safety and includes a link to a running timeline of COVID-19 response measures back to March 2020.

“Ben Franklin Transit has provided vital transportation services to the public and remained a safe way to travel in our community throughout the pandemic,” said BFT General Manager, Gloria Boyce. “Our team is committed to setting the example, upholding compliance with applicable orders, and keeping our community safely mobile. We appreciate the cooperation of the community in following these mandates to keep our community healthy and ensuring the BFT system remains a safe means for transportation.”

Throughout the pandemic, Ben Franklin Transit has closely coordinated COVID-19 safeguards with mandates, proclamations, and health authority guidance at the federal, state, and local levels. BFT will continue to monitor COVID-19-related developments and take appropriate actions to support safe public transportation in the community.

For more information about the CDC Order, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/masks/mask-travelguidance.html
​
For more information about the TSA Directive, visit: https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2021/01/31/tsaimplement-
executive-order-regarding-face-masks-airport-security
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Have News?

    Email your press release and a photo to Austin Regimbal, Vice President. Press releases are posted in their entirety. This is a free benefit for members of the Tri-City Regional Chamber at the Connect level and above.

    Archives

    July 2025
    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017

    RSS Feed

Copyright © Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved.
7130 W Grandridge Blvd., Suite C, Kennewick, WA 99336 USA
Phone: (509) 736-0510
[email protected]
Hours
Monday - Thursday: 8 am - 5 pm
​(closed for lunch 12 - 1 pm)
​Friday: 8 am - 12 pm
​Closed Weekends

Picture
Picture
Photos from Bestpicko, The National Guard, Gamma Man, US Department of Education, U.S. Secretary of Defense, Tony Webster, jalexartis, Blue Mountains Library, denisbin, Baker County Tourism, amtec_photos, CartridgePeopleUK, Alan Light
  • MEMBERSHIP
    • Membership Directory
    • Member Login
    • Join the Chamber
    • Membership Features
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
    • Stakeholder, Leader, & Growth Level Members >
      • Stakeholder and Leader Profiles
  • EVENTS
    • Chamber Calendar
    • Annual Events >
      • Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon
      • Women in Business Conference >
        • Call for Speakers - Tri-Cities Women in Business Conference
        • ATHENA Awards
      • Washington Workplace Summit
      • State of the Cities
      • Elected Leaders Reception
      • Tri-Cities Day at the Capitol
      • Bridging Partnerships Small Business Symposium
    • Monthly Membership Luncheon
    • Business After Hours
    • Ribbon Cutting Request
  • PROGRAMS & SERVICES
    • Ambassador Club
    • Ask the Experts
    • Business Builders Resource Roundtable
    • Business Resource Navigator
    • LEARN Groups
    • Member Advertising Opportunities
    • myTRI 2030
    • Office Depot Savings Program
    • Washington APEX Accelerator >
      • Meet the Buyer
      • Yes, You Can! Contracts with the Government
    • Workforce & Education >
      • Tri-Cities Regional Career Signing Day
      • Washington Workforce Portal
      • Job Board
  • Advocacy
    • Legislative Action and Advocacy
    • Business Advocacy Letters
    • 2025 State Budget
    • Vote for Business
    • 2025 Scorecard
  • NEWS
    • Press Releases
    • In the News
    • Blog
    • Member News
    • Annual Report
    • Email Updates
    • Website Sponsors
  • ABOUT US
    • Contact
    • Our Leadership
    • Our Team
    • Committees
    • Policies
    • Tri-Cities Strategic Alliance Partners >
      • Benton-Franklin Council of Governments
      • TRIDEC
      • Visit Tri-Cities
    • Tri-Cities Community Map
    • Built for Prosperity - Strategic Plan 2024-2026