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Get the Message Out: ‘Mask Up,’ Says USDOT

Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
USDOT is offering transportation providers like MTA New York City Transit a new toolkit to help educate employees and riders alike on mask-wearing requirements. (Marc A. Hermann / MTA)

USDOT is offering transportation providers like MTA New York City Transit a new toolkit to help educate employees and riders alike on mask-wearing requirements. (Marc A. Hermann / MTA)

The U.S. Department of Transportation has launched a “Mask Up” campaign with a digital toolkit to help rail, transit, air and motor carrier operators educate their employees and travelers on mask-wearing requirements.

The toolkit includes downloadable and sharable background materials, talking points, posters, social media graphics and messages, and other resources.

The initiative stems from the national requirement to wear a mask while traveling, per the Order issued by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the current Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Security Directive; failure to comply with the requirement can result in civil penalties. All transportation operators are required to ensure that their passengers comply with the mask requirements during boarding, riding and disembarking, according to DOT.

“Throughout the pandemic, transportation workers have played a vital role connecting Americans to their jobs, keeping goods moving, and ensuring that vaccines get to where they’re needed,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. “With this campaign, we’ll send a clear message to people who travel: When you wear a mask, you’re protecting the safety of our essential transportation workers, your fellow passengers, and yourself.”

The USDOT provides mask guidance for all transportation modes on the Frequently Asked Questions section of its website.

Editor’s Note: We fully expect White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci to mask up if he’s on a train or a plane. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who tested positive for COVID-19 a year ago and recently called wearing a mask following vaccination or recovery from infection “theatre” and “nanny state policies” in a heated exchange with Dr. Fauci, will probably purposely avoid using those transportation modes and be driven everywhere. And this guy’s an M.D.? How do people like this get elected? Gimmee a freakin’ break! — William C. Vantuono.

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