COVID-19 Response

While the COVID-19 pandemic has changed many things, Greenlink remains committed to ensuring our customers get where they need to go. We also take the health and well-being of our customers and employees seriously, so here’s what you can expect when riding Greenlink:

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Essential Travel

To help ensure social distancing is possible, we ask that passengers only use Greenlink for essential trips. Essential trips include transportation to and from work, scheduled medical care appointments, the grocery store and the pharmacy. Passengers should practice good hygiene (washing hands frequently, using hand sanitizer, coughing into their elbows) and stay home if they’re experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.

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Social Distancing

Greenlink lifted passenger capacity restrictions on March 8, 2021. However, it's important for passengers to maintain as much distance from the bus driver as possible when boarding, to stagger seats between other passengers when on the bus, and to stand at least six feet apart when waiting at a bus stop or inside the transit center.

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MASKS No Longer REQUIRED

Update - April 19, 2022: As a result of a court order, effective April 18, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) January 29, 2021 Order requiring masks on public transportation conveyances and at transportation hubs is no longer in effect. Therefore, CDC will not enforce the Order. CDC continues to recommend that people wear masks in indoor public transportation settings at this time.

In addition, effective April 18, 2022, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will not enforce its mask-related Security Directives. TSA is also withdrawing its Security Directive 1582/84-21-01E, which was issued on April 15, 2022, and was scheduled to take effect April 19, 2022.


February 2, 2021, through April 18, 2022:

In accordance with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Security Directive 1582/84-21-01, effective Tuesday, February 2, 2021, all Greenlink passengers and employees* must wear a face mask or other face covering when on board a bus or paratransit vehicle.

Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Order, the mask requirement does not apply in the following circumstances:

  • When necessary to temporarily remove the mask for identity verification.
  • While eating, drinking, or taking oral medication for brief periods.** 
  • While communicating with a person who has a hearing impairment and the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication.

The CDC Order provides exemptions to the following groups:

  • Children under the age of 2.
  • People with disabilities who cannot wear a mask, or cannot safely wear a mask, because of their disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq.). This is a narrow exemption to be applied in very limited circumstances. It is not meant to cover persons for whom mask-wearing may only be difficult. The TSA Security Directive gives examples of persons unable to wear a mask due to safety reasons who would be exempt, including those who do not understand how to wear or remove the mask due to cognitive impairment, cannot wear or remove a mask on their own due to dexterity/mobility impairments, or cannot communicate promptly to ask someone else to remove the mask due to speech impairments or language disorders.

Passengers who do not comply with this policy when boarding the bus will be denied service. Passengers who remove their masks while on board a vehicle will be asked to replace their mask. Greenlink reserves the right to contact law enforcement for noncompliance. 

Greenlink encourages riders to report any non-compliance instances when they are happening. Customers may alert the bus driver or call the Greenlink dispatch booth at 864-467-5000. Upon receiving the report, drivers will ask customers to wear masks at all times when on the bus. Drivers will not be responsible for removing a customer from the bus or banning a customer for non-compliance. Per the TSA’s guidance, drivers will ask that the passenger disembark the bus as expeditiously as possible.

*Masks for Greenlink employees will not be required in individual work spaces where social distancing can be practiced.

**The CDC has stated that a brief period should not exceed 15 minutes.

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Temporary Service Changes

Greenlink continues to evaluate best practices, local ordinances, business openings and other statewide orders to modify services. Currently, there are not any temporary service changes in effect. Please check back for updates.

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Contactless Payment

Customers are encouraged to pay their fare using the TouchPass smartcard or smartphone app. Cash, coins and paper tickets are still accepted but using TouchPass minimizes contact between drivers and passengers. TouchPass cards require a $2 activation fee.

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Cleaning and Disinfecting

In addition to regular cleaning efforts, Greenlink is also disinfecting its buses four times each day with a spray sanitizer. Additionally, drivers disinfect their work area, including the farebox and other high-touch areas, every two hours. Drivers are also equipped with hand sanitizer and all buses have hand sanitizer dispensers for public use.


Pandemic Timeline

Below is a timeline of steps Greenlink has taken to keep passengers and drivers safe while continuing to provide vital transportation services for essential travel needs.

TROLLEY OPERATIONS

  • March 13 – June 3, 2020: Suspended all trolley service. 
  • June 4, 2020: Resumed trolley service at normal operating hours with a 10-passenger limit on the smaller vehicles and a 15-passenger limit on the larger ones.
  • September 24, 2020: Increased passenger capacity to 20-riders on the larger trolley vehicles. The smaller vehicles maintained a 10-passenger limit.
  • March 8, 2021: Lifted passenger capacity restrictions on all vehicles.

FARE PAYMENTS

  • March 19 – May 3, 2020: Operated under a “Zero Fare” policy. During this time, fares were waived and rear-door boarding was required unless a customer required ramp assistance. Additionally, the ADA seating area, which is located closest to the driver, was reserved for wheelchair passengers only to increase the distance between customers and drivers.
  • May 4, 2020: Resumed fare collection and front-door boarding.

PASSENGER CAPACITY

  • April 2 – May 17, 2020: Limited the capacity on fixed route buses to 10 passengers per vehicle.
  • May 18 - September 22, 2020: Limited the capacity on fixed route buses to 15 passengers per vehicle (and 10 passengers on smaller vehicles). 
  • September 23, 2020: Increased the capacity on fixed route buses to 20 passengers per vehicle (and 10 passengers on smaller vehicles).
  • March 8, 2021: Lifted passenger capacity restrictions on all vehicles.

FIXED ROUTE TEMPORARY CHANGES

  • March 23 - September 13, 2020: Decreased the operating frequency on Route 602: Woodruff Connector from 30-minute headways to 60-minute headways due to Clemson University closures and retail/restaurant closures along the route.
  • September 14, 2020: Regular 30-minute service resumed on Route 602: Woodruff Connector.  

PASSENGER RESOURCES and Masks

  • May 26 – August 6, 2020: Provided free masks to customers thanks to a mask donation from Upstate Forever. 
  • August 13, 2020: Resumed the distribution of free masks to customers thanks to a mask donation from the Greenville Fire Department.
  • February 2, 2021 - April 18, 2022: Masks required per the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Security Directive 1582/84-21-01.  
  • April 19, 2022:  As a result of a court order, effective April 18, 2022, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) January 29, 2021 Order requiring masks on public transportation conveyances and at transportation hubs is no longer in effect. Therefore, CDC will not enforce the Order. CDC continues to recommend that people wear masks in indoor public transportation settings at this time. In addition, effective immediately, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will not enforce its mask-related Security Directives. TSA is also withdrawing its Security Directive 1582/84-21-01E, which was issued on April 15, 2022, and was scheduled to take effect April 19, 2022.