TARC ends mask mandate for Louisville bus riders as airlines follow suit

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Bus riders in the Louisville area will no longer need to wear masks, the Transit Authority of River City announced Tuesday, one day after a federal judge voided the U.S. government's mandate meant to combat the spread of COVID-19.

"At this time, masks are no longer required for TARC employees, customers or visitors," TARC told employees and subscribers Tuesday morning in a message a spokeswoman also shared with The Courier Journal. "We will closely monitor any new regulations and make adjustments if needed. We appreciate your patience, flexibility and adherence to safety at this time. We'll continue to follow mandates if they are reinstated."

U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle ruled Monday the federal mask mandate exceeded the authority of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Mizelle, who serves the Middle District of Florida and was appointed by former President Donald Trump, said the CDC failed to justify the order and didn't follow proper rulemaking procedures.

The federal mask mandate, announced in January 2021, had been set to expire Monday.

But the CDC announced last week that it would extend the mandate 15 days to allow more time to study the BA.2 omicron subvariant of the coronavirus that is responsible for the majority of cases in the U.S. It was the mask mandate's fifth extension despite repeated requests from airlines and other travel industry officials to ease restrictions.

Federal agencies are reviewing the decision and assessing potential next steps, a Biden administration official said, but the Transportation Security Administration will not enforce the mandate at this time. The official noted that the CDC recommends that people continue to wear masks in indoor public transportation settings.

Which airlines are getting rid of mask mandate?

United, American, Southwest, Delta, Alaska and other airlines announced Monday following the judge's ruling that masks would be optional on domestic flights and in airports.

Natalie Chaudoin, director of public relations for Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, also confirmed Tuesday that masks are no longer required for anyone at SDF.

"Masks may still be required by individual airlines and for international travel," Chaudoin said. "Travelers are encouraged to check with your airlines and flight destination regarding any face covering requirements."

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Amtrak also gets rid of mask mandate

Amtrak also said passengers would no longer need to wear masks on trains or in stations. Uber said masks would no longer be required "but the CDC still recommends wearing them."

While various public transit agencies around the country, like TARC in Louisville, have also moved to end their mask requirements for commuters, some rail and bus lines were continuing to require masks as officials assessed how to respond to the ruling.

TARC, which has bus routes serving Louisville as well as Oldham and Bullitt counties and Southern Indiana's Floyd and Clark counties, had required masks for riders and employees since April 2020, after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lillian Brents, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1447, which represents TARC employees, said her members were not all thrilled with the new mask policy.

"The decision by TARC, which they didn’t have to make, to lift the mask mandate is another in a long line of decisions on safety that they made without considering workers and riders," Brents said.

In the last week, Jefferson County saw 819 confirmed cases of the virus, an uptick from the 467 cases seen the week before but a significantly lower figure from the roughly 16,300 cases reported in a seven-day stretch in early January.

TARC spokeswoman Jenny Recktenwald said in fiscal year 2021, the agency provided 4.4 million trips to commuters in the Louisville region.

USA TODAY contributed to this story.

Reach Billy Kobin at bkobin@courierjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville TARC bus riders no longer need masks after federal ruling