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COVID-19 Developments & Response

Last Updated: Tuesday, July 27, 2021

During the COVID-19 pandemic, in response to the Bay Area shelter-in-place orders, the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (District) continues to maintain essential functions, including Golden Gate Bridge security, maintenance, toll collection, and traffic management; and Golden Gate Transit and Golden Gate Ferry public transportation services. 

In addition, the District is following recommendations from the federal government, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with respect to protecting the health and safety of our employees and the public.

This page will be updated frequently.


Golden Gate Bridge Operations & Visitor Services

The District is maintaining essential functions at the Golden Gate Bridge, such as security and maintenance staff, and monitoring traffic closely, and we are taking the following measures as a result of the shelter in place orders and decrease in traffic:

Bridge Operations Visitor Services
  • Bridge lanes will remain in a 3 southbound / 3 northbound configuration throughout the day; median barrier moves have been temporarily suspended for the morning and evening commutes.
  • Weeknight construction of the Suicide Deterrent System will begin an hour earlier and end an hour later (public works projects are exempt from travel restrictions per shelter in place orders). Get dates and details at GGB Temporary Weeknight Lane Closures.
  • All-electronic tolling remains in effect at the Bridge. 
  • Access to Bridge sidewalks currently remains in place for pedestrians and bicyclists. On some weeknights, the east sidewalk may close one hour early due to construction. For more info, visit GGB Temporary Weeknight Lane Closures and our Bikes & Pedestrians page. 
  • Bridge parking lots, including Vista Point at the north end and the Welcome Center and Merchant Road lots at the south end are closed 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays. 
  • Signage has been installed at the entrances to Bridge sidewalks reminding visitors of social distancing and to wear face coverings.

Golden Gate Transit & Golden Gate Ferry Services 

Golden Gate Transit and Golden Gate Ferry have reduced levels of service to better match ridership demand. Go to the Golden Gate Bridge District Health & Safety Plan to see how we are keeping our passengers safe.

Beginning February 24, 2021, Golden Gate Transit and Ferry, Marin Transit, and SMART are offering free rides to customers taking transit to and from vaccination sites! Riders need to present physical or digital confirmation of their same-day vaccine appointment at time of boarding. This joint effort by Marin County transit agencies is aimed at reducing transportation and cost barriers for community members to receive the vaccine.

Beginning Tuesday, June 15, 2021, Golden Gate Transit and Ferry will no longer impose social distancing requirements on its buses and ferries (except for 6-foot distancing around the bus operator area). All bus and ferry riders are still required to wear a face covering while at bus stops and terminals, while boarding and disembarking, and for the duration of travel. 

Service reductions include reduced bus and ferry services (visit our Bus Schedules & Maps and Ferry Schedules & Maps pages for current service levels and timetables) and the suspension of service to Chase Center. Service to Oracle Park resumed on June 25, 2021. Additional service reductions may be announced and all information is subject to change. 

Golden Gate Transit Golden Gate Ferry

Riders can get real-time Golden Gate Transit bus arrival information using Transit app. We use Twitter and Transit app to notify customers of service alerts and delays. 

Local bus rides within San Francisco on Golden Gate Transit are now permitted. Learn more at Golden Gate Transit Helps Muni Customers During Service Reduction.

We use Twitter to alert customers of Golden Gate Ferry service alerts and delays. 

Other Regional Transit Services


Protecting Employees & the Public

The District is following recommendations from the federal government, including the CDC, with respect to measures we are taking to protect the health and safety of all employees and the public.

In order to protect our customers and employees who interact with the public as part of their regular duties, we are taking the following measures:

Protecting Employees Protecting Customers
  • Making personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves and masks, available to all employees.
  • Taping off the first row on our 45-foot MCI buses to maintain social distancing around the bus operator area. 
  • Sharing information and personal hygiene recommendations from the CDC and county health departments with all employees, including social distancing protocols, on a regular basis.
  • Strongly encouraging all employees who are sick or have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 to stay home from work.
  • Moving new Bus Operator training class to a larger classroom at the Bridge to better enable for social distancing for the 10 students and 4 instructors.
  • Establishing procedures for reporting suspected COVID-19 cases in the workplace.
  • Replacing driver's shuttle with larger vehicle.
  • Allowing most administrative staff to work from home. 
  • Mailing COVID-19 information to all employees.
  • Installing moisture barriers on all buses to create a shield between passengers and the operator.
  • Offering free rides to customers taking transit to and from vaccination sites! Riders need to present physical or digital confirmation of their same-day vaccine appointment at time of boarding. Read more: SMART, Marin Transit, and Golden Gate Offer Free Rides to COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments
  • Requiring all riders over 2 years of age to wear a face covering, as ordered by federal and local health officials. Read more: Golden Gate Transit and Ferry Limiting Passengers on Board, Requiring Use of Face Masks
  • Cleaning District buses, ferries, and facilities with disinfectant on a regular basis. Watch a 30-second video on our YouTube channel. 
  • Taping off the first row on our 45-foot MCI buses to maintain social distancing around the bus operator area.
  • Posting signage at San Rafael Transit Center. 
  • Pushing out regular social media postings and reminders of the District's reduced services and measures being taken to ensure their safety.
  • Installing moisture barriers on all buses to create a shield between passengers and the driver.
  • Honoring verbal stop requests so riders don't have to touch push buttons or pull cords to signal they want to exit the bus.
  • Requiring all riders over 2 years of age to wear a face covering, as ordered by federal and local health officials. Read more: Golden Gate Transit and Ferry Limiting Passengers on Board, Requiring Use of Face Masks

Protecting Vendors, Suppliers & Contractors

The District has enacted precautions and restrictions related to the coronavirus that apply to both our employees and all suppliers and contractors who access our facilities in alignment with the guidance issued by local authorities. Therefore, all suppliers and contractors are advised:

  • Access to District facilities is generally limited to those performing District-critical functions.
  • Suppliers and contractors should communicate with their District point of contact for specific access directions and reporting instructions.

Please refer to our Doing Business section and Coronavirus Vendor Contractor Information for more information.


Contact Us & Follow Us on Social Media

Customer Service Center Social Media

For current fare, schedule, trip planning, and other general transit information, contact our Customer Service Center as follows. Assistance is available in over 150 languages. Hours of operation are weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; we are closed weekends and major holidays.

  • In Person: Visit us at the San Rafael Transit Center, Platform D, 850 Tamalpais Ave, San Rafael, CA 94901.
  • By Phone: Call 511 (toll-free) or 415-455-2000 outside the Bay Area. 711 (TDD) or California Relay. 
  • By Email: Send to contact@goldengate.org. Note: This email inbox is monitored during weekday business hours only.
  • By Fax: Send to 415-482-7528.

We also offer an online Bus Comment Form and an online Ferry Comment Form to comment specifically on these services.

The District uses its social media channels to keep customers up to date on services, news updates, and general District information. Please follow us to stay up-to-date on District social media efforts!

Twitter - Real-time service alerts and updates

Facebook - Sharing out news, online content, service updates, and District information

Instagram - Visual storytelling of the Golden Gate Bridge, the District, and our commuter community

YouTube - Video highlights of the District and its employees


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