In Missouri, St. Louis Metro Transit has partnered with the St. Louis Mosaic Project to help ensure that non-English-speaking riders throughout the area have access to important COVID-19 information on the system in their native language.
The two organizations have created a range of multilingual materials for riders of public transportation whose primary language is not English to help them understand mask policies, fare plans, changing bus routes, and more.
With the help of the International Institute of St. Louis, materials highlighting COVID-19 and health and safety procedures produced by the American Public Transportation Association have been translated into six languages: Arabic, Bosnian, Chinese, Spanish, Swahili, and Vietnamese.
More than 1,750 posters can now be found on MetroLink trains, MetroBus vehicles, and MetroBus shelters across the region. Information has also been shared via social media and directly with immigrant organizations to assist those who are starting to use transit for jobs once again.
St. Louis Metro Transit has contributed additional financial support, including some of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funding it received to further the project’s outreach.
“It’s vital that we have effective and clear communication with all the individuals we serve, but especially during these challenging times when the messages we need to communicate help to ensure the safety and health of all our Metro Transit riders,” said Taulby Roach, president and chief executive officer of Bi-State Development. “We’re proud of our continuing partnership with the Mosaic Project and welcome the opportunity to promote an inclusive environment in the bi-state area.”
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