Public transit system management during pandemics: global practices and a way forward

An outbreak of pandemic disease is a very uncertain event that can occur and spread around the globe within a few days, just because of the fast and dynamic transportation network. There is a significant need to provide support and assistance to small urban and rural public transportation providers on the necessary procedures that should be implemented within these organizations to respond effectively to a pandemic. At the same time, certain policies can be proposed to the government and local authorities to help or cooperate with the transit operators. This paper evolves a framework for public transportation management (PTM) during pandemic by synthesizing the contemporary literature and selecting country-specific practices on PTM. This can be utilized to identify the need for planning measures and their appropriate incorporation into the framework. This study proposed a framework named rapid action plan (RAP) and various other strategies for public transit safety and management during the pandemic. The proposed RAP includes a step-by-step guideline for assessment and steps necessary to facilitate coordination across the various response spectrum.