INDEPENDENT NEWS

COVID-19 Update: Transport In Auckland Under Alert Level 3

Published: Sun 28 Feb 2021 06:32 AM
The Government has announced that Auckland will be moving back to Alert Level 3 at 6am on 28 February for seven days. This means stay at home when possible and in your bubble, as per Government advice.
While at Alert Level 3, travel is allowed for essential personal movement in your area such as:Accessing essential local services and businessesGoing to work and school. However, you should work and learn from home where possibleLow-risk recreation in local areaExtended bubble arrangementsTravelling to permitted gatherings
The government has advised that you must maintain physical distancing of 2 metres outside of your home.
For more information of where and when you are permitted to travel go to: www.covid19.govt.nz
Public transport will continue to operate with strict health and safety requirements in place. Per government advice, you must maintain 2 metres physical distancing and should scan the Ministry of Health’s NZ COVID Tracer app QR code, plus you must wear a face covering.
Fares will continue to be charged over this Alert Level 3 period. Cash will not be accepted on public transport. Customers must tag on/off with their AT HOP card and we strongly recommend that you register your AT HOP card to help with contact tracing should it be required. This will also allow us to monitor passenger numbers and make fast adjustments to services if required due to changes in demand.
Buses, trains and ferries will continue to operate to existing timetables until further notice so customers can continue to rely on the AT Mobile App and journey planner to plan their journey. This will also help enable essential workers and passengers on essential journeys to exercise physical distancing. Because of the very short notice and potentially short duration of this regional lockdown, it may not be practical for physical distancing stickers to be installed across the public transport network immediately. Aucklanders are thus asked to be mindful of their personal surroundings and of the importance to maintain 2-metre physical distancing.
School buses will also still operate as normal to ensure that children are able to get to school. We will work with schools and based on their input may make changes to school bus services if warranted. Per Government guidelines, the 2-metre physical distancing requirement does not apply to school buses, as these are considered to be a part of a school’s controlled environment.
Those travelling on public transport should avoid peak times unless it is necessary, such as going to work or school. This is to further ensure that the required two metres of physical distancing between staff and customers can be maintained. AT’s customer service centres remain open.
AT has taken numerous measures to help keep customers safe on our network and maintain effective and safe public transport services for our customers, these include:Our AT Mobile app indicates the available capacity that is on a bus or train service at any given time adjusted to alert level restrictions, so customers will know if two-metre distancing will be achievable before they board. Bus drivers will move to only dropping customers off once a vehicle is at capacity.We’re ensuring that all public transport is being thoroughly cleaned regularly. See a video of some of our cleaning here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpAHT7gpQRIBuses and trains are being spot checked, with touch surfaces being regularly cleaned.We will be actively monitoring our timetables while at Alert Level 3 and will make changes to timetables as needed. For timetable information download the AT Mobile app or go to: www.at.govt.nzOur cleaners and other essential staff are using PPE and will maintain clear physical distancing rules ­ — such as using the ‘bubble’ rule with our teams, strict hand-washing prior to and after completing tasks — and other measures as they go about their work on our vehicles, stations and facilities to minimise the risk of COVID-19 as much as possible.
In addition, parking in AT buildings and on-street will continue as will the enforcement of parking restrictions, bus lanes and other special vehicle lanes.
Parking and transport compliance staff will also be assisting authorities by monitoring physical distancing behaviour across our network and assisting essential healthcare and community testing facilities with any transport related issues.
Be mindful that the Government’s advice continues to be that the best defence against COVID-19 is to limit our interactions with others and practice good hygiene.
Under Alert Level 3, Aucklanders must continue to stay within their household bubbles whenever they are not at work, at school, going to the supermarket, for medical reasons, or exercising locally.
We know this is once again a challenging time for us all. We ask that people be understanding and patient of everyone else who is in the same situation.
And remember, please travel only if necessary.
The best place to find the latest information about the COVID-19 situation in New Zealand is on the Government’s special COVID-19 website: https://covid19.govt.nz/
Auckland Transport’s COVID-19 page is at: https://at.govt.nz/COVID-19

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