MST declares fiscal emergency due to COVID-19 pandemic

The Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) Board of Directors declared a fiscal emergency for the transit agency on March 19 via teleconference.

The declaration will enable implementation of emergency service reductions and delegate to the general manager/CEO and/or his designates authority to take action to commit district resources and expenditures, and provide purchasing authority to the general manager/CEO and/or his designee up to $250,000 to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

MST says it remains committed to providing safe, reliable, efficient service to the communities it serves. Should MST experience a driver shortage due to illness, health precautions or childcare challenges due to school closures, MTS says it will be forced to reduce service; however, it will continue service on as many lines as possible.