Alliance for Downtown New York Launches New and Safer Fleet

Buses Feature Enhanced Safety Measures to Protect Riders on Downtown Connection

The Alliance for Downtown New York has awarded a new contract for the city’s Downtown Connection, the only free circulator bus service in New York City. For more than 15 years, the Downtown Connection has served Lower Manhattan and Battery Park City with its distinctive red commuter coaches. Daily service runs from 10 am until 7:30 pm, with 36 stops and arrivals every 10-15 minutes. ADA-compliant coaches are part of the fleet.

Under the new contract, the outer appearance of the new coaches from US Coachways will remain essentially the same, but the buses will feature a number of internal safety enhancements to minimize the risk of transmission of communicable airborne diseases.

Redesigned Seating Arrangement

The new coaches have replaced the center aisle and face-to-face seating of previous fleets with forward facing rows. The new configuration allows for the installation of plastic shields between each row, recommended by both the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization as effective in intercepting and preventing the spread of viruses or germs. It’s still recommended that riders wear masks.

New State-of-the-Art Filtration System

The coaches will all feature a UV-C air filtration system. This system uses short-wave ultraviolet (UV) light to inactivate airborne pathogens and other microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria and mold. UV light has long, been used in hospitals, laboratories and research facilities to disinfect air, water and surfaces, as early as 1908 to disinfect municipal water supplies in France. Well-documented scientific studies show that ten minutes of UV-C light effectively kills 90% of all contaminants and an hour of exposure eliminates 99% of airborne pathogens. The air filtration system on the buses operates continuously, maximizing the safety of passengers.

Daily Cleaning and Disinfection

The Downtown Alliance has also teamed up with US Coachways to put a rigorous daily cleaning and disinfection regimen in place. Each bus will be meticulously sanitized with CDC-approved products before the buses go out for a new day.

US Coachways—Safely Leading the Way

At US Coachways, they have been at the forefront of the charter bus industry for nearly 40 years, providing a wide range of ground transportation services to businesses, individuals, groups and governmental entities. They place a premium on the safety of all passengers, providing personal protection equipment to all our drivers in strict compliance with Department of Transportation, CDC and public health organization guidelines. To learn more about the full range of services the company offers, or to ask any questions about charter bus travel, call 1-855-0287-2427 and ask for one of their experienced luxury travel consultants.