Plans to Restore Transit Service With Social Distancing, Other Risk Reduction Measures in Place

After months of nothing but news of service cuts, plummeting ridership, and cratered budgets, a few U.S. transit agencies are now making plans to restore service with new social distancing guidelines in place.

2 minute read

May 14, 2020, 10:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Transit in a Pandemic

Kevin Benckendorf / Shutterstock

Paul J. Wiedefeld, general manager and CEO of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, writes for The Washington Post to explain that transit system's plans to reopen as the region slowly emerges from stay-at-home orders and some workers return to work.

Metro ridership has plummeted to historic lows and that’s a good thing — for now. Customers are making only essential trips to protect the health of everyone in the region. Planning for recovery from the covid-19 shutdown isn’t like reopening after a blizzard. This is not a “start your engines” moment. This principle guides our plans to implement phased recovery over the next 12 months.

The Metro system is currently only using half of its frontline employees, according to Wiedefeld, who claims the agency, working with its employee union, has worked rigorously to protect the health of employees during the public health crisis. Wiedefeld also states that the first job of the system's recovery plan will be to protect the health and safety of its workforce. 

Second, the plan will consider customer expectations regarding masks, cleaning, and efforts to reduce crowding on high demand routes at peak times. "Our recovery plan anticipates that when regional leaders move to the first phases of reopening, trains will run every 20 minutes. The first and eighth cars, which have been closed to passengers, will reopen. Buses will continue to operate on Sunday routes and schedules." 

Later on, depending on the timing of subsequent phases in Maryland, Virginia and the District, Metro "will begin to reopen stations, increase train frequency and operate more bus routes later this summer and into the fall," according to Wiedefeld. 

More news coverage of the transit reopening plan for the D.C. region are included in an article by Jordan Pascale for WAMU. Seattle's King County Metro has also revealed its plans to begin restoring transit service with new considerations for social distancing and the health and safety of both riders and transit employees in place.

Saturday, May 9, 2020 in The Washington Post

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today