MBTA taking even more measures to stop spread of coronavirus

The MBTA is implementing new measures starting Saturday, March 21, to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. This includes having only rear-door boarding on all MBTA buses and trolleys at street-level stops on the Green Line and Mattapan Line.

Anyone who needs to use the front door, including seniors and people with disabilities, may continue to do so, according to a release by the MBTA.

These rules are in addition to revisions that went into effect earlier this week, resulting in reduced schedules to protect the health and safety of the MBTA’s workforce and customers.

“The MBTA is undertaking these measures to protect our frontline employees while maintaining regional mobility for essential trips by healthcare workers and emergency responders,” said MBTA general manager Steve Poftak.

“The men and women taking the MBTA every day are trusting us to get them where they need to go, and to do so safely,” added Boston Carmen’s Union president Jim Evers. "I’m proud that our Union and the T were able to work together to ensure the right steps are being taken to protect employees and riders during this time.”

The MBTA began new protocols this week to clean and disinfect all high-contact surfaces on buses during mid-day layover periods. This is in addition to the daily cleaning and disinfecting of all MBTA buses, trolleys, subway cars, Commuter Rail coaches, ferries and RIDE vehicles every 24 hours.

The MBTA is also disinfecting all customer business site locations, including the RIDE Eligibility Center, every 24 hours, and cleaning all high-contact surfaces including handrails, fare gates and fare vending machines in subway stations every four hours.

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