University of California Institute of Transportation Studies

Public transportation has been blamed for facilitating the spread of COVID-19 in dense, urban areas. As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, transit agencies have reduced service and implemented mask-wearing mandates and social distancing aboard transit. Some prior studies that address public transportation provide some evidence that negative COVID-19 outcomes are linked to high transit use. One early study of COVID-19 transmission on trains in China found that transmission is also affected by the density of passengers, seat spacing, and length of time traveled with other passengers aboard the trains.