Before you start your weekend, here's the rundown on news updates impacting the Ithaca-Tompkins County community and beyond.
Food Service Worker, Ithaca-Tompkins Regional Airport Staff Member Test Positive for COVID-19 Ithaca: The Tompkins County Health Department issued a press release Wednesday notifying the community of a food service employee who has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. The individual worked at Mango Mango Desserts on Dryden Road in Ithaca’s Collegetown, and had shifts in the afternoon on both Saturday and Sunday, March 14th and 15th. The health department recommends that anyone who visited Mango Mango during the weekend of March 14th and 15th should closely monitor themselves for fevers and respiratory symptoms and should self-quarantine for 14 days following their visit to the restaurant. Following Wednesday's announcement, Tompkins County officials were notified by a private employer at the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport on Thursday that one of their employees had tested positive for COVID-19. The Tompkins County Health Department has completed a thorough contact investigation to identify close contacts and potential exposures; the individual has been at home in isolation since samples were collected on 3/22. Anyone identified as having potentially been exposed was notified and provided further steps to take which include self-quarantine and/or testing.
If symptoms develop, people can seek testing at the Cayuga Health Sampling Site located at The Shops at Ithaca Mall parking lot between the hours of 10am-3pm Monday through Friday. If seeking testing, pre-register online at cayugahealthsystem.org or call the Cayuga Health Registration Line at 607-319-5708. As of Thursday evening, the health department has reported 32 positive tests for COVID-19 in the Tompkins County community. For the most up-to-date COVID-19 information and guidance provided by the Tompkins County Health Department, dial 211 or visit their website.
TCAT Service Reductions Effective Monday
Tompkins County: TCAT announced Thursday afternoon that they will make additional reductions to bus services effective Monday, March 30. TCAT Communications Director Patty Poist noted that current TCAT ridership is only 10% of normal levels. As a result, the following bus routes will be temporarily suspended: 11N; 11S: 53; 72, 74; 75; 81, 83W; 83; 90; 92 and 93. All other bus routes will run on altered schedules to correspond with decreased demand and to provide bus drivers with additional breaks.
TCAT plans to run buses on this new schedule through the remainder of the spring service period, which ends May 23rd, but schedules are subject to change depending on how the crisis evolves in the coming weeks.
Additionally, TCAT buses are operating fare-free through April 9, to avoid rider-driver contact at the fare box.
TCAT asks that people obey stay-at-home orders, practice social distancing and use the bus only when completely necessary. Do not board TCAT buses if you are sick or are experiencing any symptoms.
The following routes will be adjusted:
Route 10: Mon.-Fri.
Will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Frequency reduced to 30 minutes. Last two trips will have a little more frequency starting from Seneca St. Station at 5:24 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.
Route 11: Mon.-Sun:
Outbound hourly service from Green St. Station starting at 8:08 a.m. with the last trip at 6:08 p.m.
Inbound hourly service from College Circle Apts. starting at 8:30 a.m. with last trip at 6:30 p.m.
Note: Route interlines (or offers one seat rides) to both the routes 15 and 13 to serve shopping areas.
Route 13: Mon.-Sun.: Route shortened for efficiency and will only serve the Commons to and from Northside neighborhood, Aldi and Fall Creek.
Outbound hourly service from Green St. Station starting 8:34 a.m. with last trip at 6:34 p.m.
Inbound hourly service from Falls @ Lake starts at 8:51 a.m. with last trip at 6:51 p.m.
Route 14: Mon.-Sun.:
Outbound hourly service starts at Green S. Stations at 8 a.m. with last trip at 6 p.m.
Inbound hourly service starts from Cayuga Medical Center hourly at 8:25 a.m.; THEN (:27 on the hour) from 9:27 a.m. through 1:27 p.m.; and THEN (:35 on the hour) from 2:35p.m. to 5:35 p.m.
Last inbound departs Cayuga Medical Center is 6:36 p.m.
Route 14S: Mon.-Sun: Slight reduction in service. Routing change due to Hector St. construction.
Route leaves West Village 10:28 a.m.; 11:23 a.m.; 12:18 p.m.; 1:13 p.m. and 2:08 p.m. (to serve Conifer/Linderman; Overlook and Cayuga Meadows.)
Return trip departing Walmart 11:10 a.m.; 12:05 p.m.; 1 p.m.; and 1:55 p.m.
Route 15: Mon.-Sun.:
Outbound hourly service starts at Seneca St. Station at 8 a.m. with the last trip at 6 p.m.
Inbound hourly service from Tops starts at 8:14 a.m. with the last trips at 6:14 p.m.
Route 17: Normal service on routes that are scheduled to operate. Route 20: Mon. Fri.: Routing change due to Hector St. construction. Route will follow Elm to Westhaven.
Outbound hourly service Green St. Station from 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. and outbound from Vet School at 2:15 p.m. and 4:55 p.m.
Inbound departing hourly from Enfield Highway Dept. at 7:25 a.m.; 10:25 a.m.; 2:52 p.m. and 5:38 p.m.
Sat. and Sun.
Outbound service from Green St. Station from 7:45 a.m. and 10 a.m.; Vet School at 2:15 p.m. and 4:55 p.m.
Inbound from Enfield Highway Dept. at 8:10 a.m.; 10:25 a.m.; 2:52 p.m. and 5:38 p.m.
Route 21: Mon.-Sun:
Outbound service from Green St. Station at 6:45 a.m. and 9:40 a.m., and Vet School at 3:03 p.m. and 5:50 p.m.
Inbound departs Aubles Trailer Park at 7:15 a.m.; 10:10 a.m.; 3:50 p.m.; and 6:35 p.m.
Route 30: Mon.-Fri.
Outbound half hour service from Green St. Station at 8 a.m. with last trip at 6 p.m.
Inbound from Shops at Ithaca Mall 8:28 a.m. with last trip leaving mall at 5:58 p.m.
Sat. and Sun.
Outbound leaving Green St. Station every hour from 8 a.m. with last trip 6 p.m.
Inbound from Shops at Ithaca Mall every hour from 8:28 a.m. through 5:28 p.m.
Route 31: No weekend service.
Outbound service from Green St. Station every hour from 8:05 a.m. through 6:05 p.m.
Inbound service from Convenient Care every hour from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; and every hour from 2:38 p.m. through 5:38 p.m.
Route 32: Mon.-Sat.
Outbound leaving Green St. Station every hour from 8 a.m. through 6 p.m.
Inbound leaving Ithaca Tompkins International Airport every hour from 8:23 a.m. through 5:23 p.m.
Note: This route will no longer be interlined (or become a one-seat ride) with the route 15.
Route 36 and 37 to run clockwise and counterclockwise: Weekdays only:
A.M. outbound route 36 from Green St. Station at 6:40 a.m. and 9:48 a.m.
A.M. inbound route 37 from Lansing Town Hall at 7:12 a.m. and 10:20 a.m.
P.M. outbound route 37 outbound from Green St. Station. 2:45 p.m. and 6:05 p.m.
P.M. inbound route 36 from Lansing Town Hall 3:27 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.
Route 40: Mon.-Fri.
Outbound from Green St. Station 6:42 a.m.; 10:55 a.m.; 1:10 p.m.; and 5:05 p.m.
Inbound from Groton Express Market at 7:15 a.m.; 11:40 a.m.; 1:52 p.m. and 5:46 p.m.
Sat. and Sun.
Outbound from Green St. Station from 8:40 a.m.; 11:35 a.m.; 1:10 p.m.; and 5:05 p.m.
Inbound from Groton Express Market at 9:12 a.m.; 12:18 p.m.; 1:52 p.m.; and 5:46 p.m.
Route 41: Weekday only service has timing changes. Schwartz Center for Performing Arts stop relocated to Statler Hall due to construction.
Trips will be running 20 minutes later in both directions. There will no trips inbound departing 11 a.m.; 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.
The last a.m. outbound trip from Statler departs at 10:57 a.m.
The last p.m. outbound trip from Statler departs at 5:57 p.m.
Route 43: Mon. – Sun.:
Outbound from Green St. Station, first trip 6:40 a.m. and then 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m.; 6 p.m.
Inbound from TC3/Dryden at 7:15 a.m.; 11:10 a.m.; 2:20 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.
Route 51: Mon. through Sun.
Outbound service from Green St. Station hourly from 8:20 a.m. through 5:20 p.m.
Inbound from Eastern Heights @ Skyvue hourly from 8:51 a.m. through 5:51 p.m. (Please note that the inbound 51 at the Vet School interlines or becomes a route 67 and will first stop downtown.)
Route 52: Mon.-Fri.
Outbound from Green St. Station at 7:20 a.m.; 11:10 a.m.; 3:05 p.m. and 6:10 p.m.
Inbound from Caroline Turnaround at 7:40 a.m.; 11:50 a.m.; 3:45 p.m. and 6:50 p.m.
Sat. and Sun.
Outbound from Green St. Station at 7:20 a.m.; 10:10 a.m.; 3:05 p.m. and 6:10 p.m.
Inbound from Caroline Turnaround at 7:40 a.m.; 10:50 a.m.; 3:45 p.m. and 6:50 p.m.
Route 53 not running: Use route 52 for service to Brooktondale. Route 65: Mon. through Sun.
Outbound from Vet School at 8:08 a.m.; 3:35 p.m.; and 5:05 p.m. and outbound from Green St. Station at 12:15 p.m.
Inbound from Hillside View Trailer Park at 8:40 a.m.; 12:35 p.m.; 4:10 p.m. and 5:37 p.m.
Route 67: Mon. through Sun.:
Outbound from Seneca St. Station at 7:05 a.m.; 10:45 a.m.; 2:50 p.m. and outbound from Vet School at 6:08 p.m.
Inbound from Newfield Central School at 7:26 a.m.; 11:10 a.m.; 3:15 p.m. and 6:44 p.m.
Route 70: Sat. and Sun.
Outbound hourly service from Green St. Station 8:30 a.m. through 5:30 p.m.
Inbound hourly service from Shops at Ithaca Mall hourly from 8:58 a.m. to 5:58 p.m.
Route 72: not running. See route 32, which is running seven days a week. Route 74: not running. See route 40, which is running seven days a week Route 75: not running. See route 43, which is running seven days a week. Route 77: Sat. and Sun.
Loop leaving shops at Ithaca Mall at 1:30 p.m. 3 p.m. 3:55 p.m. and 4:55 p.m.
Leaving Village Solars at 1:44 p.m.; 3:14 p.m.; 4:09 p.m. and 5:09 p.m.
Leaving Winston Court at 1:55 p.m.; 3:25 p.m.; 4:20 p.m. and 5:20 p.m.
Route 81: No service. See route 82. Route 82: Frequency to remain at 30 minutes with service operating between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Southbound from A Lot: first trip 8:15 a.m. every half hour through 5:45 p.m.
Northbound from East Hill Plaza every half hour from 8:18 a.m. through 9:48 a.m. and every half hour after from 10:20 a.m. through 6:20 p.m.
Because changes are occurring so rapidly, riders should check TCAT’s Bus Tracker and other apps before boarding. More information on the routes impacted by this service reduction can be found on tcatbus.com.
Tompkins County Health Department and CDC Instructions to Prevent Spread of COVID-19
To prevent further spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Tompkins County Health Department and the CDC recommend the following practices.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
More preventative measures can be found online at tompkinscountyny.gov and the Center for Disease Control’s website, cdc.gov.
Collegetown Road Closure Begins Monday Ithaca: The City of Ithaca issued a construction notification on Wednesday for work that will be done for a water main replacement and new service installation at the intersection of Oak Ave and College Ave at the circle in Collegetown, Ithaca. The 400 Block of College Ave from Dryden Road to Oak Ave at the circle will be closed to through traffic from 7am-3:30pm beginning Monday March 30th and ending Wednesday April 1st. More traffic and construction information can be found online at cityofIthaca.org.