ET, April 18, 2022 While Amtrak passengers and employees are no longer required to wear masks while on board trains or in stations, masks are welcome and remain an important preventive measure against COVID-19. This caused the company to reevaluate our policy and to address the uncertainty aboutthe federal requirements that apply to Amtrak, the quasi-government agency said. Amtrak Contact Amtrak became the latest company to require vaccinations for employees on Thursday, joining several airlines that have mandated the jab. If you have a FOIA request, please clickhere. Anyone needing or choosing to wear one is encouraged to do so. 2023 Amtrak Media. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which helps enforce disabilityrights in employment, has issued guidelines clarifying how businesses can follow public health measures while still accommodating disabled employees. By signing in to your account you acknowledge you have read and agree to the updated terms and conditions, including the binding arbitration agreement. Please enter a password. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. I'm considering it just to ride the TECO trolley and hang out around the waterfront for a few hours, seeing as I'm now 2 weeks past my second vaccination. 1332, 1333. 2574, provided that: Pub. (d). Read More: I flew Delta for the first time since it stopped blocking middle seats and found cracks showing in its mask enforcement here's what it was like, Read More: I rode Amtrak up and down the Northeast Corridor during the pandemic and found it surprisingly clean, cheap, and stress-free here's what it was like, Read More: Amtrak relaunches USA Rail Pass, a ticket that lets you travel the country for 30 days for $299, Read More: New York just debuted a $1.6 billion train hall to upgrade its notorious Penn Station, complete with skylight ceilings and a premium lounge see inside, I flew Delta for the first time since it stopped blocking middle seats and found cracks showing in its mask enforcement here's what it was like, I rode Amtrak up and down the Northeast Corridor during the pandemic and found it surprisingly clean, cheap, and stress-free here's what it was like, Amtrak relaunches USA Rail Pass, a ticket that lets you travel the country for 30 days for $299, New York just debuted a $1.6 billion train hall to upgrade its notorious Penn Station, complete with skylight ceilings and a premium lounge see inside. Get flash sales, Amtrak Guest Rewards promotions and account updates sent directly to your inbox. The ADA is an anti-discrimination law meant to provide similar legal protections to disabled Americans as other groups protected under federal civil rights lawbecause of their color, race, sex, religion and national origin. May 4, 2021. Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. 45:797j (words ,the National Railroad Passenger Corporation,). 1327, 306(m); added Sept. 29, 1979, Pub. Coronavirus: Amtrak's mask rule starts Monday; Acela returns June 1 L. 92316, 3(b), 86 Stat. Limiting bookings: Amtrak is limiting ticket sales on reserved services to allow for physical distancing while traveling. It says required at all times except for actively eating or drinking or taking medication. While ridership is down some 95 percent, according to Amtrak executives, Amtrak has continued to ferry passengers across the country on a reduced schedule since early March, as it is an essential business. Passengers with a medical condition can request an exemption to the rule . (o). Find more information about their coronavirus response on the Amtrak website. 1327, 306(f); added June 22, 1972, Pub. Amtrak has upgraded its technology, fleet, stations and processes to make travel as seamless and safe as possible. Media Statement issued at 7:30 p.m. Small children who are not able to maintain a facial covering are exempt from this requirement. Ridership is still down leaving inter-city trains with scores of open seats from which to choose. Moderator note: Please use this thread for all practical discussion of the mask mandate (on board enforcement, implementation throughout the train and on different trains, acceptable masks under the policy, etc.) Amtrak President Stephen Gardner had previously warned that if more employees didnt comply with the mandate, the company would have to cut service next year. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. Basically, only an individual with a disability who can show that wearing a mask would significantly interfere with their ability to breathe or some other necessary function could claim that an exemption from a mask requirement would constitute a reasonable accommodation, Stephen Befort, a professor at the University of Minnesota Law School, told USA TODAY. Amtrak to require all passengers to wear masks When you offer something to the public a job, a restaurant its not that people with disabilities are the first in line; its that they can get in line, Peter Blanck, a professor of disability law at Syracuse University, told USA TODAY. L. 92316, 3(a), 86 Stat. "While Amtrak passengers and employees are no longer required to wear masks while on board trains or in stations, masks are welcome and remain an important preventive measure against COVID-19," the statement read. 551. I don't know if Amtrak will still require masks then. National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Amtrak Partners with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Broadway Show to Bring the Magic to Life, Amtrak Recognized as One of the Best Employers for Diversity, Amtrak Kicks Off Procurement for East River Tunnel Renewal. Learn More All Aboard with Just Your Phone Download the Amtrak app for iPhone and Android today. All rights reserved. Pub. Pub. Oops, that answer wasn't quite right. privacy policy. The railroad entity told its workers in a memo that it would allow those who were not vaccinated to get tested as an alternative. of chapter 9 of Title 45, Railroads. (e), is act June 8, 1954, ch. Beginning Monday, all passengers on Amtrak trains and in stations will be required to wear masks, the carrier announced Thursday. Amtrak Statement: Mask Use Encouraged, Not Required Amtrak began selling all seats on its trains in May after limiting capacity at half for most of the pandemic. (e). Of course, my next (planned) Amtrak trip will (or should) be in February 2022. Amtrak has also adjusted hours at its New York City hub, Penn Station, to allow for more time to sanitize both the station and the trains for the following day. 1327, 305(e)(8); added Nov. 3, 1973, Pub. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Tuesday noted that the vaccination-policy change is in line with what the federal government had been recommending for private-sector companies. Let's try a different question. 927. What is it like to take Amtrak during the pandemic? - The Points Guy a professor at the University of Minnesota Law School, who was mistakenly barred from entering a commissary, who are at especially high risk of experiencing severe cases of COVID-19, a professor of law at Syracuse University who has researched misconceptions of disability rights, advocates have warned that it's often harder for disabled Americans to receive information about COVID-19, Ear loop masks, homemade cloth masks, offer protection against COVID-19, Department of Justice, June 30 Press Release, Department of Justice, COVID-19 Alert on Fraudulent Face Mask Flyers, EEOC, What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws, Military Times, "Wounded veteran Israel Del Toro gets apology after being refused entry to Peterson commissary, KKTV, "Wounded Warrior refused service over mask policy at Peterson AFB, Centers for Disease Control, People with Disabilities, CNBC, "The hidden struggles Americas disabled are facing during the coronavirus pandemic, 42 U.S.C. (c)(2)(B). Supreme Court Rejects Lawsuit Seeking To Block Air Travel Mask Mandate For the past decade, these one-time strangers all train geeks have made several cross-country trips together on Amtrak. 1327, 306(i); added Feb. 5, 1976, Pub. Pub. The denunciation follows up on an earlier statement in which the agency said it had been made aware of postings or flyers on the internet regarding the ADA and the use of face masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of which include the Department of Justices seal., Fact check: Masks are effective against COVID-19; OSHA doesn't say they offer no protection. L. 10488, 308(g)(1)(B), substituted section 10721 of this title applies for sections 1072110724 of this title apply. It has upped the frequency and quality of its sanitization process onboard. Amtrak's announcement on face masks is the latest in a series of initiatives taken by the company to keep trains and stations clean, as well as customers and employees safe and healthy during . 2023 Cond Nast. Here is Amtrak's official policy on masks, according to its website: All customers and employees must wear a face covering or mask while on trains or thruway buses. While ridership is down some 95 percent, according to Amtrak executives, Amtrak has continued to. 1330; Oct. 5, 1978, Pub. / : ; < = > ? In subsection (c)(2)(B), the words adversely affected are substituted for aggrieved for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the Code. L. 91518, 301 (1st, 4th, last sentences), 84 Stat. The standard is normally cited in employer-employee relationships, but experts and regulators agree that COVID-19 poses a threat to businesses when interacting with customers. In subsection (h), the word applicable is omitted as surplus. Oh boy. L. 105134, 415(d)(1), inserted ,and shall not be subject to title 31 after United States Government. privacy policy. Pub. What It's Like Riding Amtrak After New Policy of Filling - Insider Uptown Station | Normal, IL - Official Website Private Rooms L. 101610, 601(a), 104 Stat. L. 105134, 208, inserted heading and substituted in text Amtrak, a rail carrier subsidiary of Amtrak, and any passenger or other customer of Amtrak or such subsidiary, are for Amtrak or a rail carrier subsidiary of Amtrak is, tax, fee, head charge, or other charge, imposed or levied by a State, political subdivision, or local taxing authority on Amtrak, a rail carrier subsidiary of Amtrak, or on persons traveling in intercity rail passenger transportation or on mail or express transportation provided by Amtrak or such a subsidiary, or on the carriage of such persons, mail, or express, or on the sale of any such transportation, or on the gross receipts derived therefrom for tax or fee imposed by a State, a political subdivision of a State, or a local taxing authority and levied on it, and In the case of a tax or fee that Amtrak was required to pay as of September 10, 1982, Amtrak is not exempt from such tax or fee if it was assessed before April 1, 1997. for However, Amtrak is not exempt under this subsection from a tax or fee that it was required to pay as of September 10, 1982.. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Amtrak continues to evaluate current practices and launch new initiatives to support personal safety. Starting Monday, May 11, all passengers on Amtrak trains and thruway buses, as well as in Amtrak-serviced train stations, will be required to wear a face covering. 5:30 AM - 10:30 PM. While Amtrak passengers and employees are no longer required to wear masks while on board trains or in stations, masks are welcome and remain an important preventive measure against COVID-19. Amtrak has required its customers and workers to wear masks since May of 2020. Employees must be fully vaccinated by Nov.. @ [ \ ] ^ _ ` < | > ~. Will wait for the all-clear before I ride the rails again especially now when unnecessary travel is not recommended. 3186, provided that: Pub. Amtrak employees will also wear face coverings or a mask, the railroad service announced. 110. Rachel Chang is a travel and pop culture journalist who contributes to Travel + Leisure, Cond Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, and more. L. 10488, 308(g)(1)(A), substituted Part A of subtitle IV for Subtitle IV. Children who can't wear a face mask are exempt from this regulation. (o), is the date of enactment of Pub. Facial coverings can be removed when customers are in their private rooms. Additionally, enforcing masks in a private room would have little to no health benefit; it's likely there was not an exemption simply because private train rooms are currently such a niche travel mode. Yes, there have may been some bias against surfers in the state of California, but fundamentally it was about health, Harris explained. As new outbreaks of the coronavirus grow across the country, some anti-mask activists have claimed that policies mandating mask-wearing infringe on disability rights. The new mask requirement means that passengers must wear a face covering or mask at all timeswith exceptions for eating in designated dining areas and sitting "alone or with a travel companion in their own pair of seats."