Pandemic update: MARTA provides additional sick leave to workers

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) announced it will provide an additional 80 hours of paid sick leave to all employees affected by COVID-19, and a one-time payment of $500 to frontline employees.

MARTA last week modified its labor contract with the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 732 to add the emergency paid leave. ATU Local 732 represents the majority of MARTA employees, agency officials said in a press release.

Meanwhile, passenger-rail agencies across the country are further reducing service and implementing other measures to continue to limit the spread of COVID-19.

 Following is a summary of recent updates by agency:

• Metropolitan Transportation Authority deployed a team of medically trained personnel to check temperatures of frontline employees at 22 locations.
• Bay Area Rapid Transit today temporarily closed entrances at four downtown San Francisco stations. 
• Regional Transit District of Denver on April 19 will reduce commuter-rail service on three lines.
• Hampton Roads Transit in Virginia last week suspended fare collection on its light-rail service until June 10.
• New Orleans Regional Transit Authority yesterday suspended overnight service on most streetcar routes.
• Contra Costa County Transit Authority and Transdev North America partnered to provide essential employee, service, food and supply shuttles in San Francisco.