SYRACUSE, NY (NCC News)-The Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (CENTRO) no longer requires face covering inside its buses. CENTRO is the main provider of bus transportation in Central New York and provides services to Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga, and Oneida counties.
The decision from CENTRO comes as New York Governor, Kathy Hochul, announced on September 7th that public transit across the state would no longer mandate face coverings. Instead, residents across the state can choose whether or not they want to wear a face covering.
CENTRO Chief Executive Officer, Brian Schultz, said in a statement posted to twitter that he “encourages everyone to respect the personal decision of all on this issue as we move forward.”
Syracuse resident Trinity Sparks, says she is glad to see the mandates lifted. Sparks, “feels safe riding the bus, as long as those who are sick continue to mask up.”
Although COVID-19 cases have gone up across Syracuse University’s campus the past few days, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations rates across the state have continued to decline. With companies such as Amtrak, Uber, American Airlines, and more dropping mask mandates in previous months, Hochul’s decision is another sign that the transportation industry is returning to “normal.”
