VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – It seems the first round of testing copper on SkyTrain and buses has been a success.
Back in November, TransLink and Vancouver Coastal Health started up a five-week trial, using copper-based products and a protective coating on high-touch surfaces on two buses and two SkyTrain cars. The goal was to find out if the installations would help prevent the spread of illness on transit.
The surfaces were regularly swabbed and tested to determine antimicrobial effectiveness.
The results are back, and the transit authority says 99.9 per cent of all bacteria was killed within one hour of contact with the surface. It also says the copper products were also deemed to be durable enough for use on transit.
TransLink is now expanding its study, with more testing of copper products on more SkyTrain cars and buses. The second phase of the pilot will also include getting feedback from riders.
