The COMET Implements More Safety Measures in Fight Against COVID-19

(March 31, 2020) Columbia, SC – In monitoring COVID-19, The COMET is striving to exhaust all measures to keep passengers safe. Understanding the potential challenges that the community may face in the coming weeks, we continue to encourage all riders to limit travel to only that which is essential. As we attempt to be of service to our community, and recognizing the importance of social distancing, we have also taken stronger steps to direct our passengers to observe a safe distance while riding.

At this time, the COMET will continue running a Saturday schedule (Monday-Saturday). Sunday schedule will remain unchanged. The following modifications have also been enacted, effective 03/31/2020:

• COMET Central, located on the corner of Sumter and Laurel streets, will be temporarily closed until further notice. This helps alleviate overcrowding concerns during the peak hours of the day and helps spread out customers to different transit stop locations.
• Seating on the bus will now be limited to one passenger per row to encourage safe distancing. With this change, customers will not be allowed to utilize the handrail for support. This is a conservative, but necessary, effort to control the spreading of germs.
• Buses will display “Bus is Full” marquee once all seats are taken, with respect to social distancing, to prevent overcrowding.

In addition to the stay-at-home ordinance implemented by the City of Columbia, we are encouraging all Columbia residents to adhere to the guidelines set forth. As new information continues to develop, we will reevaluate all changes to ensure that maximum services are being provided.

###

About The COMET:  The COMET is a service of the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority and provides countywide public transit services on 34 fixed routes, five ReFlex services, vanpool service for commuters, subsidy programs with Uber and Lyft and DART for transportation to grocery stores and at night, ADA complementary paratransit service throughout Richland and eastern Lexington Counties and eight Blue Bike bikeshare stations in Downtown Columbia. The COMET transports approximately 2.8 million passenger trips a year on a fleet of more than 80 buses, vans and trolleys. Transit services are provided under contract with Transdev, Enterprise Holdings, Lyft, Uber and Bewegen. For additional The COMET information, please call (803) 255-7100, TDD/TTY: 711 through the relay service, email: info@catchthecomet.org or visit www.catchthecomet.org.

Catch The COMET…We Will Take You There!