The International Association of Public Transport (UITP), together with four other associations, sent an open letter to the European institutions – European Commission, European Council and European Parliament, to ensure the basic continuity and survival of the public transport and local mobility services which face difficult times due to coronavirus pandemic. UITP, IRU, Polis, EuroCities and CER are the undersigned organisations.
Although the organisations are unable to assess the economic and financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, they highlight that the local passenger transport sector’s ecosystem, will be heavily affected in multiple ways, particularly in the countries which are currently face seriously problems due to coronavirus, such as Italy, Spain, France or Germany.
The impact relates mainly to the decrease in revenues, in some cities the reduction in patronage reaches 85%, and the additional costs needed to disinfect and implement social distancing measures in transport vehicles and infrastructure.
In order to limit these social, economic and financial consequences as well as to facilitate continuity of service, exceptional measures will need to be adopted very rapidly. “In this context, we especially welcome the Commission’s proposal to activate the general escape clause ofthe Stability and Growth Pact. We call therefore on the Council to endorse the Commission proposal: budgetary flexibility is crucial to allow Member States and competent local authorities in charge of mobility to respond adequately to this crisis,” it is mentioned in the open letter.
In order to ensure this continuity, the competent authorities have to guarantee the availability of the relevant medical equipment and products to the public transport and local operators to protect the health and safety of their employees, as well as their passengers.
In this unprecedented context public transport operators and local mobility providers are committed to apply to some extent health and safety recommendations in line with the requirements set by local, national and European authorities.
The undersigned organisations have set recommendations comprising six best practices* to protect both staff and passengers and to keep transit systems running.
The public transport and local mobility stakeholders have already put in place a set of preventive measures and are continuously sharing information and best practices in order to protect both staff and passengers and to keep transit systems running. For a broader outreach and to be more effective the support of Member States and of European institutions is needed.
*The best practices are:
– Ensure that all workers receive the latest and most accurate information about COVID19 including ways to limit/avoid transmission;
– Provide staff, especially drivers, with hand sanitizing products and other appropriate means;
– Regular deep cleaning and disinfection of transport vehicles and assets touched by the transport users;
– Limit the interactions of drivers with passengers;
– Adapt the level of service according to the reduction of travel demand in line with regular business procedures and with decisions taken by public authorities;
– Provide dedicated services to healthcare personnel and any other category of personnel falling under essential services;
– Temporarily release from active service, staff members with a higher risk of infection.
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