Dallas County Living Well Magazine September/October 2020 | Page 17

DART Expands Cleaning and Distancing
Efforts to Help Keep Riders Safe
DART remains committed to doing everything
it can to keep riders safe during the coronavirus
pandemic while providing essential
transportation services.
CLEANING PROTOCOLS
Working closely with local, state and national
health authorities—including the
Texas Department of State Health Services
and the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention—DART has aggressively
expanded agency-wide cleaning
and safety protocols.
All vehicles receive cleanings throughout
the day using products identified by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as
successful in killing the coronavirus, as well as
influenza, rhinovirus, norovirus, salmonella, staphylococcus
and E. coli.
Each weekday, DART Rail vehicles also receive a complete cleaning
between 7 p.m. and 3 a.m., which includes sweeping, mopping
and a complete wipe-down with an EPA-approved cleaning agent.
On weekends, when ridership is reduced, DART sanitizes trains with
Halosil foggers that use a hydrogen peroxide-based cleaning solution
with antimicrobial silver ions to sanitize and disinfect each train and
clean all surfaces.
DART buses also receive cleanings nightly with an EPA-approved
cleaning agent, focusing on high-touch surfaces such as handrails,
stop-request strips and grab rails. DART cleans buses on a rotating
basis with the Halosil foggers to sanitize and disinfect. Over 80% of
DART buses feature a germicidal air purification system designed to
reduce the transmission of airborne bacteria and viruses as air is recirculated
throughout the bus.
The agency continues to isolate vehicles and block off facility areas
that have been exposed to unsanitary and unhygienic situations. This
includes removing vehicles from service that have been exposed to
biohazard situations from passengers.
MASK USAGE ON VEHICLES
As more North Texans return to their worksite, ridership on DART’s
buses and trains is expected to increase, making social distancing
more difficult. The agency now requires customers to wear a face
mask or other covering when riding buses and trains in accordance
with the governor’s executive order. Use of a face mask while waiting
at bus stops, transit facilities and rail stations is also encouraged.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the use
of cloth face coverings can help slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The masks do not have to be hospital-grade. Customers
may use bandanas, scarfs, fabric masks,
etc. to cover their mouth and nose.
In addition to wearing a face covering,
DART encourages customers to maintain
a 6-foot social distance from one another.
The agency is limiting the number
of passengers who may board its bus
and rail vehicles to enable riders to
leave empty seats between themselves
and other riders. Additional buses and
trains are being deployed to allow for
extra space on board.
CONTACTLESS PAYMENTS
Instead of ticket vending machines and bus
fare boxes, DART is encouraging riders to buy
their passes with one of the agency’s contactless
fare payment options—either the GoPass app or a Go-
Pass Tap card. These are the safest and best way for customers
to purchase a pass and avoid contact with surfaces that others may
have touched.
By switching to GoPass, customers can buy passes and plan trips
right on their phone. The app is free on the App Store or Google Play.
Another option is GoPass Tap, a reloadable fare-payment card.
These cards can be purchased at 7-Eleven stores or other participating
retailers. Customers can load value onto their GoPass Tap card using
cash or credit at retail stores, online at GoPass.org, or over the phone by
calling DART Customer Service at [phone], Option 1.
REPORTING INCIDENTS
Customers who see an unhygienic surface or a situation that needs
attention are encouraged to contact DART by using the DART
Say Something app or by calling DART Customer Service at
[phone].
The DART Say Something app offers a quick and easy method for
reporting cleanliness and security concerns directly to DART Police,
who will share the concern with the appropriate service teams.
Riders can use the drop-down menu to select the type of activity
they want to report, as well as the location of the incident. The app allows
users to submit photos, six-second videos and text descriptions.
The app also enables two-way communication that allows DART Police
dispatchers to request further details.
Download the DART Say Something app for free for iPhone and
Android devices from the Apple App Store or from Google Play.
Customers can also use text a tip at [phone] or contact DART
Customer Service at [phone].
Learn more about DART’s coronavirus response at DART.org/health.
To find answers to commonly asked questions, visit DART.org/ask.
DALLAS COUNTY • 15