MOUNTAIN LINE TRANSIT AUTHORITY

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: Thursday, February 11, 2021

Contact: David A. Bruffy, CEO

Phone: (304) 296-3680

Morgantown, WV- The Mountain Line Transit Authority Board of Directors learned yesterday that their employees have been bumped down from the CDC’s recommended Phase 1b vaccination priority for mass transit to Phase 1d in the WV Vaccination Plan. No explanation has been given for this change and the Board expressed concern that this move furthers the risk to community transportation services.

Mountain Line has missed 1,055 hours of service since March 2020 due to COVID. The Authority has had 39 employee tests for suspected COVID-19 infection. Seven of its 63 employees have tested positive with December being the worst month to date. The Authority has a service reduction plan in place, but little advance notice is possible leaving passengers standing at the curb in now inclement weather. Mountain Line is transporting between 800 and 1,200 passengers daily, providing trips to COVID vaccinations, dialysis and other critical medical treatments and transporting essential workers who rely on public transit as their primary means of transportation.      

The Authority encourages passengers to follow their bus route on twitter and to check the www.busride.org/covid website for current service status and service changes. The Authority Board has agreed to meet in Emergency Session should it become necessary to stop regular bus service altogether or to take other measures beyond the current service reduction plan. 

                              

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