Major Metro Detroit Transportation Agencies Dropping Mask Mandates

METRO DETROIT — Multiple public transportation agencies across metro Detroit rescinded their mask mandate orders following a federal judge's ruling to strike down the federal mask mandate.

The ruling means face coverings to protect against COVID-19 are no longer required in airports, mass transit systems, airlines and ride-hailing services, giving the public agencies the option to keep the mask rules or ditch them entirely.

Detroit Metro Airport, SMART Bus and the Detroit Department of Transportation all dropped their mandatory mask mandate less than a day after the Florida Judge overturned the pandemic requirement for planes, trains and buses.

"While masks are no longer required at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), the CDC continues to recommend the use of masks in indoor public transportation settings," the authority said in its announcement. "Customers and workers should decide what is best for their health and comfort."

The Detroit Department of Transportation will also not enforce mask mandates on buses, shelters or in buildings. But officials still recommends that transportation riders, operators and employees wear masks, especially in areas that do not allow social distancing.

"As always, safety is our number one priority for both riders and operators of DDOT," Executive Director of Transit C. Mikel Oglesby said. "We encourage our riders and operators to make the best decisions regarding masking for their own health, safety and well-being."

Florida federal Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle said in the 59-page decision striking down the travel mask mandate that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention both exceeded its legal authority and failed to go through proper channels to put the rule in place.

As a result, the CDC late Monday said its order requiring masks on public transportation "is no longer in effect" and the agency will not enforce it. However, the CDC said it "continues to recommend that people wear masks in indoor public transportation settings at this time."

Effective Tuesday, the Transportation Security Administration was no longer requiring masks on planes or in the nation’s airports. One by one, most of the nation’s major airlines dropped mask requirements, making the face coverings optional for employees and passengers.

The TSA said in its statement that the CDC continues to recommend face coverings to protect against the coronavirus. Amtrak issued a stronger statement, saying that although they are no longer required of passengers and employees, "masks are welcome and remain an important preventive measure against COVID-19."

The Florida decision also affects ride-hailing companies. Uber no longer requires masks as of Tuesday and Lyft soon followed suit, saying masks are now optional for riders and drivers.

Still, some state and local transit agencies could keep their mask requirements. Last week, the CDC had extended the now-suspended mask rule to study the worrisome BA.2. subvariant of the coronavirus, which is responsible for most of the COVID-19 cases around the country.

Philadelphia extended its mask mandate, the first city to do so in response, and on Monday, a group of local residents and businesses filed a lawsuit to throw out the mask mandate.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City said Monday it would keep its mask mandate in place on the bus, subway and rail systems it oversees, The New York Times reported.

The case before Mizelle, appointed to the federal bench by now-former President Donald Trump in November 2020 after he lost the presidential election, was filed in July 2021 by two plaintiffs and the Health Freedom Defense Fund.

"The court concludes that the mask mandate exceeds the CDC's statutory authority and violates the procedures required for agency rulemaking under the APA," the judge wrote.

It’s unclear if the Biden administration will appeal the decision. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Monday that Mizelle’s decision was "disappointing," and the administration’s response is still under review and the "Department of Justice would make any determination about litigation."