All riders on Metro Transit will be required to wear face masks beginning today — Monday, May 11.

The transit system that operates MetroLink light rail and MetroBus said that the requirement is being taken “to help protect transit riders and Metro Transit employees from the spread of coronavirus.”

Beginning Monday, May 11, face coverings are mandatory for all Metro Transit customers and employees when riding MetroBus, MetroLink or Metro Call-A-Ride services.

Face coverings need to fit over your nose and mouth, and non-medical masks, scarves, handkerchiefs, bandanas and other types of cloth coverings are permitted.

A guide for making your own face covering can be found here.

You must wear a face covering during your entire trip on a Metro Transit vehicle, the agency said. This policy does not apply to children ages 2 and under, and customers who have trouble breathing, are incapacitated or are unable to remove the cover without assistance.

If you are not wearing a face covering, you will not be permitted to board MetroBus, MetroLink or Metro Call-A-Ride vehicles. The requirement to wear face coverings on public transit follows recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and a requirement issued by the State of Illinois asking people to wear a face covering over their noses and mouths when in a public environment where social distancing is not always possible.

Metro Transit will resume front-door boarding and fare collection on buses beginning Monday, June 1, the agency also announced.

To reduce the person-to-person contact between bus operators and passengers, Metro has been waiving the collection of cash fares on MetroBus since March 21, and riders have been boarding buses via the rear doors.

Metro has also made other adjustments to transit operations and services to better protect operators and passengers and to minimize potential exposure to the coronavirus. This includes providing all transit operators with masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment, limiting passenger loads on buses, installing polycarbonate shields around the operator cabs on all buses, and changes to MetroBus service that better meet ridership demands and support social distancing.

With these measures now in place, Metro anticipates being able to resume fare collection while continuing to address the health and safety of operators and passengers.

“Metro Transit will continue to closely monitor operations, and will make any necessary adjustments to support the health and safety of transit operators and riders during the COVID-19 crisis,” the agency said in its announcement.

Transit riders who have questions or require assistance are encouraged to call Metro Transit Information at 314-231-2345 or to text 314-207-9786, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.