Our commitment remains to provide a safe and reliable mobility for everyone taking essential trips aboard El Metro buses and El Lift vans.
As the State of Texas begins to open the economy in phases, the City of Laredo has followed suit but remains with several orders in place including the requirement of face coverings and physical distancing.
El Metro and El Lift passengers must wear face coverings while waiting at a bus stop, when inside the Transit Center and while aboard buses or vans. Current city orders involve social distancing as requirements aboard transit buses and facilities.
“Our focus remains to keep El Metro COVID-free,” said Claudia San Miguel, general manager of El Metro Transit. “For our riders and employees safety, we have added enhance sanitary protocols, enforced physical distancing, and face coverings. With these new protocols in place, we continue to maintain the safety of public transportation services and our own staff.”
Effective this May 6, 2020, El Metro will adjust its passenger capacity from 10 to 18 passengers per bus. Because of the nature of its service, El Lift van services will continue to limit the boarding capacity to only 2 passengers at the time; this limited capacity better protects vulnerable riders from possible exposure.
“This represents 30 percent of a full bus capacity while practicing physical distancing,” San Miguel added. “The objective of this still-limited capacity is to reduce the number of essential workers that are starting to be left behind at the Transit Center or bus stops along our routes.”
The increased capacity will better serve the mobility needs of added essential workers that are now reporting to work in line with the State of Texas lifted restrictions on certain retail businesses.
Stay informed on Mayoral Orders updates or regarding COVID-19 by going to www.CityofLaredo.com. For any questions, please call the City of Laredo Coronavirus hotline Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at (956) 795-4954.
For more information on COVID-19, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html
