CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio — The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad followed suit with dozens of other transportation agencies, dropping its mask mandate Tuesday.
In a press release, the not-for-profit railroad said it's following the latest ruling, in which a judge Monday overturned the mask mandate on transportation vehicles, which has been in effect for more than a year because of the pandemic. The Transportation Security Administration announced shortly after it won't enforce a mask mandate.
“Due to the recent court ruling, effective immediately, CVSR will no longer require masks for guests while on the train and at our boarding stations,” said Joe Mazur, CVSR President and CEO. “We always want our guests to feel comfortable while on the train. While we will not enforce masks, guests who would like to wear a mask should feel free to wear one when joining us.”
Other Ohio agencies, including the Central Ohio Transit Authority and the Cincinnati Metro, also dropped their mask policies as a result of the ruling. Many airlines, including United, American, Delta, Alaska, Southwest and JetBlue, made the same decision.
While the judge overturned the ruling, the White House still recommends masking up.
"This is obviously a disappointing decision," said press secretary Jen Psaki, later adding: "As soon as they have an assessment and an update on additional steps, they'll make that available."
Psaki said the Biden administration still recommends that people wear masks on airplanes in the meantime, in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.