La Crosse buses drop mask mandate

For the first time in two years, riders will not have to wear a face mask on a La Crosse city bus.

The MTU made the change following a Florida judge’s ruling Monday, knocking down a mandate, which was supposed to run until early May.

“Originally, the court ruling was for the CDC guideline,” Adam Lorentz, the city’s director of transit, said, “but the TSA is the one that enforces that rule, and late (Monday) night, the TSA sent out an assessment that they will no longer be enforcing the security directives and the emergency requiring a mask on public transportation.”

The news comes as Wisconsin is averaging 647 COVID-19 cases and two deaths per day over the past week.

Lorentz said the MTU fleet has been upgraded during the pandemic, with better air filtration, and barriers to protect the drivers.

Lorentz added that some riders occasionally complain to bus drivers about having to be masked but most went along with the rule.

La Crosse bus riders can still wear face masks if they feel more comfortable doing so.