TransLink switches bus cleaning schedule

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Starting next week, TransLink says it will be increasing the frequency of deep cleans on buses, but that means no more spray-downs.

Before the pandemic, buses were deep cleaned every three months, with each clean taking four to five hours. With the change, they will be deep cleaned every two months.

But the president of the local bus driver’s union, Balbir Mann, is worried it’s not the right time to be switching up cleaning routines.

“We would like to continue, since we’re going through this fourth wave, [cleaning] twice a week,” he said, referring specifically to the bi-weekly sprays.

“We brought up our concern that since there’s the Delta variant, they should have waited a little bit longer, since the face masks are mandatory again.”

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The deep cleans will reach “every nook and cranny of the busses,” said Tina Lovgreen, TransLink spokesperson. Drivers will also have access to PPE and regular area cleanings, and high-contact surfaces on buses will still be cleaned nightly.

“This decision was made because of the emerging research on COVID-19 transmission and the effectiveness of the spray,” she said.

“We determined that increased frequency of deep cleans and daily disinfecting of all touch points results in a higher level of cleanliness and protection for our customers.”

TransLink will be hiring 10 additional full-time employees dedicated to making sure the deep cleans get done.