A federal judge in Florida struck down the national mask requirement on airplanes, trains, buses and other public transportation. This decision came less than a week after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had extended the mandate through May 3rd. In the wake of this decision, the four largest US airlines, United, Delta, Southwest, and American dropped their mask requirements for domestic flights. As did the smaller airlines, JetBlue, Alaska, Spirit, and Frontier.
However, in New York City masks will still be required in taxis, and on MTA buses and trains (subway, LIRR, Metro North). Staten Island Ferry, NYC Ferry and New York City taxi and for-hire vehicle passengers will also still be required to mask up. Uber and Lyft, on the other hand, will no longer require drivers and riders to wear a mask. However, in New York City, Uber and Lyft are overseen by the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) which is keeping the mask mandate in place for now. The local rule supersedes the company’s policy so masks will still need to be worn in New York City Uber and Lyft trips. New York Waterway will not require masks at its terminals and on its ferries and buses. In New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy ended the mask mandate for New Jersey Transit
Amtrak will no longer require masks on board trains or in stations but encourages riders to still wear them. In a statement they said, “While Amtrak passengers and employees are no longer required to wear masks while on board trains or in stations, masks are welcome and remain an important preventive measure against Covid-19.”
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the PATH train and oversees the Port Authority bus terminal and regional airports, said the masking requirements were still in effect for New York locations but not New Jersey ones.
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