Public transport has been hit hard by COVID-19. With ridership significantly down, leading to considerable financial distress for public transport operators. The good news: there is growing evidence that public transport riders do not face higher infection risk than anyone else.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, most public transport operators have quickly stepped up and taken concrete action to make transit systems COVID-safe for staff and passengers. Paul Comfort, an expert on leadership, transportation infrastructure and trends, and former CEO of the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), explains how we must keep the momentum going to preserve the appeal of public transport, for the sake of public health, economic recovery, and environmental sustainability.