Southeast Area Transit is making adjustments to way it transports residents

ZANESVILLE – The changes are because of the Corona Virus.

Frequently abbreviated as SEAT, the public transit system has the public’s health at the front of its mind. As a result, passengers can only be transported to and from places that have been deemed essential by SEAT.

“If you have essential needs – jobs of course, going to work is an essential; medical appointments is essential. People getting to dialysis is essential and, of course, if you have some type of personal need, you know groceries or prescriptions or anything, that’s essential and we are screening people to find if they are essential or not,” SEAT Director Howard Stewart said.

SEAT wants to try to limit the amount of rides for a passenger to one per day.

“We’re transporting somewhere in the area between 340 and 350 people per day with our street route being closed down and we’re just doing demand response. So, that’s the reason we’re only doing essential one trip per day. Now, if you’re going to work we’ll get you home. If you’re going to a medical appointment, we’ll get you home, but, if you’re going back and forth to the grocery store we may question that,” Stewart said.

Starting Wednesday, SEAT will be enforcing that all of its passengers wear some sort of face protection whether that is a mask or a bandanna, for example.