$50 Fine For No Masks At Port Authority Airports, PATH Stations

NEWARK, NJ — Starting Monday, it could cost travelers a $50 fine if they don’t wear a face mask in any facility run by the Port Authority, including its airports, PATH stations and bus terminals.

According to Port Authority officials, the new policy is being rolled out to support New York and New Jersey state requirements on mask-wearing in transportation facilities amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The policy takes effect on Nov. 2.

Some affected locations include the Newark, JFK and LaGuardia airports, Midtown Bus Terminal, the George Washington Bridge bus station, the Journal Square Transportation Center and local PATH stations.

The Port Authority has been reaching out to riders for months, asking them to mask up to help protect employees and their fellow commuters. That effort will continue, with the agency putting its primary emphasis on “voluntary compliance” instead of fines, officials said.

Learn more about the Port Authority’s COVID-19 precautions here.

“Since March, the agency has used public announcements, posters and digital signage, mask giveaways and education days, and one-on-one interaction to make travelers aware of the health and safety protocols established by the states of New York and New Jersey in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Port Authority officials said.

Some Port Authority facilities, such as Newark Airport, already have mandatory face mask policies in place.

• See related article: Newark Airport Adapts To COVID With Masks, PPE Vending Machines

The agency pointed out that masks must be worn "appropriately," and recommended that travelers catch up on how to wear and use cloth face coverings via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

The agency’s announcement comes as state officials warn about a rise in COVID-19 cases across New Jersey.

On Saturday, Gov. Phil Murphy extended New Jersey's public health emergency amid the coronavirus crisis for the seventh time as the state reported its highest daily case number in five months.

• See related article: Gov. Murphy Extends NJ COVID Public Health Emergency, Cases Peak

On Tuesday, Murphy expanded the quarantine travel advisory list to its largest ever, now demanding travelers from 41 states and territories to quarantine for two weeks after returning – even if their travel route started in New Jersey.

Nonessential travel from Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware also is highly discouraged, although none of the states are on the travel advisory list. New York and Connecticut are also discouraging nonessential travel to and from the Garden State, but they are not mandating that travelers quarantine.

Delaware, Connecticut and Pennsylvania meet the criteria for New Jersey's travel advisory, but they were left off the list due to the interconnected nature of the region, Murphy said. A 14-day quarantine for travelers from these states is "not reasonable," Murphy said.

• See related article: NJ Expands COVID-19 Travel Quarantine List To 41 States

This article contains reporting by Tom Davis and Nicole Rosenthal, Patch staff

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