UPDATE
Only employees deemed essential, such as those providing service
and care to transit agency customers, worked during this period.
Although its manufacturing operation was paused, BYD
continued to serve Lancaster, Los Angeles County, and its
customers through the donations of Personal Protection
Equipment to fight the spread of COVID-19. BYD has donated over
$1 million worth of PPE items including masks and sanitizers.
Resources team has adopted an innovative multi-point safety protocol,
which includes:
• Social Distancing, including markings at all crowd gathering
places to facilities social distancing
• Screening and Monitoring, including non-contact body
temperature scanning before anyone can enter the plant
• Disinfection and Sanitation, including regular sanitation of all
common areas and touch-prone areas and promoting the use of
sanitizers
• Prevention and Awareness, including providing and requiring the
use of Personal Protection Equipment such as masks and gloves
for all employees, and promoting safety awareness through
training, posters, and memos
• Promoting safety practices at home for workers, such as
sanitizing personal vehicles, avoiding gatherings, and frequent
and vigorous hand washing
BYD has divided its production workforce into shifts, has limited
capacity in break areas, and has social distancing markings in
gathering spots, including at entry points into the factory.
Following state, county, and City of Lancaster safety guidelines,
BYD limited operations at the manufacturing plant in mid-March.
FTA announces $5 million funding
opportunity for tribal transit
projects nationwide
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in June announced the
availability of $5 million in Fiscal Year 2020 competitive grant funding
to support transit services for American Indian tribes and Alaska
Native villages in rural areas. A Notice of Funding Opportunity appears
in the Federal Register. The application period will close at 11:59 p.m.,
Monday, August 24, 2020.
FTA’s Tribal Transit Program is authorized by Congress to support
public transportation for federally recognized Indian tribes and Alaska
Native villages, groups, or communities, as well as to meet the needs
of older adults, people with disabilities, and youth in rural areas where
transit is sparse.
The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act increased
the Tribal Transit formula program from $25 million to $30 million and
continued the $5 million annual competitive program. In FY 2020, the
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allocated
an additional $30 million through Tribal Transit formula funding.
12 | BUSRIDE.COM | JULY 2020