The COMET Is Working Hard To Keep You Safe On Our Buses And Fight COVID-19!

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 would like to continue to encourage all riders to limit travel to only essential locations. It should be noted, we too are aware of the importance of social distancing, as we attempt to be of service to our community.

For details on The COMET's transit services and routes in operation, please visit our Routes webpage.

Per President Biden’s Executive Order 13998, issued January 21, 2021, all passengers board The COMET must have a mask that covers the nose and mouth.  The COMET will not tolerate any passengers whom chose to not follow this directive and will risk suspension and a trespass notice. Requiring masks will protect America’s transit workers and passengers and help control the transmission of COVID-19.

Other Safety Measures That The COMET is Doing:

• To observe social distancing, essential travel is limited to the available seating for passengers on all vehicles. No standing will be allowed. Travel will be one-way with mandatory deboarding at end of line in order to minimize any occurrence of individuals attempting to ride non-essentially. Security will be strategically placed at stops along the routes to help monitor adherence. Additionally, rear door boarding is in effect until further notice.
• Hand sanitizers are installed on all vehicles.
• Signs inside all restrooms encouraging people to wash their hands.
• All buses are detailed four times a month to ensure cleanliness.
• All buses used in service go through a through cleaning daily, in addition to their four times a month detailing.
• All bus operators and passengers will have hand wipes, masks upon request.
• All buses are being fogged to ensure cleanliness.
• Bus shelters and bus stops are being cleaned daily, including benches, poles, bars and walls being wiped down and pressure washed.
• All vehicles are going through a routine pest control program to ensure there are no insects, bugs or vermin on the vehicles.
• The COMET will participate and cooperate with CDC, DHEC, City of Columbia, Richland County and Lexington County to ensure the public is aware of what is being done to keep you safe.
• DART services will still be available to those individuals needing paratransit. However, The COMET requests that appointments be limited to only essential travel (i.e., physician visits, pharmacy, grocery, etc.).
• The COMET also requests that any trips on fixed route service be limited to essential travel (work, medical, grocery, etc.), and that any passengers experiencing COVID-19 symptoms refrain from traveling on public transit. These precautions will be in effect until further notice. Any new information will be released contingent upon updates from the Governor’s Office or the White House.
• COVID-19 Operational Policy Adopted by the Board of Directors is here.