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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Transit Authority says the agency has dropped its mask mandate for bus and train travelers.
The decision comes after a federal judge ruled Monday that the mask mandate was unlawful. The Biden administration is currently reviewing that ruling.
In a statement to KSL NewsRadio, Utah Transit Authority spokeswoman Andrea Packer said the agency will no longer enforce the mask requirement.
"Following the federal court ruling yesterday, the TSA announced it will no longer enforce the mask requirement on public transit," Packer said. "As a result, UTA is no longer requiring masks to be worn on our system, effective immediately."
On Monday, the Salt Lake City International Airport used Twitter to make the same announcement.
SLC International is aware of the changes to enforce the mask mandate. The Airport will continue to provide masks to those requesting them and suggests passengers continue to wear masks as recommended by the CDC.
— SaltLakeCityAirport (@slcairport) April 19, 2022
Packer said that UTA was originally waiting for a response from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before making a decision about masks. But when the Transportation Security Administration announced on Monday that it would no longer enforce the mask mandate on public transportation and at transportation hubs, UTA followed suit.
Despite ending the mask requirement, UTA will still provide masks for those who want them.
Major airlines including Delta, United, Southwest, and Alaska Airlines have announced masks are now optional for travelers.
