Laura Glesby Photo
Lt. Governor Bysiewicz Wednesday morning at Union Station.
Metro North trains are transporting nearly twice the number of riders they had in March. Government officials want to see these numbers continue to grow — as long as passengers continue to wear masks.
Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Joe Giulietti, and Mayor Justin Elicker delivered this message Wednesday morning at a press conference at Union Station, where they handed out masks to Metro North passengers.
Thirteen trains were set to depart from the station between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., including several to Boston, Grand Central, and Springfield.
A largely-empty Union Station, aside from officials present for the press conference.
When Covid-19 first hit, Metro North ridership decreased by 92 percent, according to Giulietti. As New York has begun to open up again, the numbers have climbed to between 12 and 15 percent of pre-Covid ridership.
“Metro North truly does respond to what happens in New York City,” said Giulietti.
Bus ridership has increased to around three-quarters of the pre-Covid rate — up from 50 percent in the spring. CT Transit has increased the number of New Haven buses running in order to accommodate this uptick in passengers.
Bysiewicz said that most Metro North riders have been wearing masks. “The compliance rate on Metro North has been excellent,” she said.
She stressed that continued use of masks is critical for public health. She estimated that 36,000 Covid-related deaths could have been prevented if people had begun wearing masks in the United States one week earlier in the pandemic.
Bysiewicz and Elicker holding masks they’ll soon distribute.
Elicker highlighted the city’s “Mask Up” campaign to encourage people to wear face masks. “It is exciting, compassionate, and cool to wear a mask,” he said. He noted that masks can be an outlet for self-expression, praising the creativity that he has seen. (His mask was fabric and featured a blue-gray, wave-like pattern.)
Byziewicz, Andreski, and Metro North’s “Metro Man” mascot.
Other onbard safety measures include retrofitting trains with stronger air filters and ventilation systems, according to Bureau Chief for Public Transportation Rich Andreski.
When asked about the safety of bus drivers and train operators, Andreski said that issue is the “first priority” for the state. He praised public transport employees as essential workers, providing a lifeline in a public health crisis for those have have no other way of getting from place to place.
How can we learn more about the mascot? Do they do birthday parties?