The MTA announced yesterday, June 30, that they will be adding PPE vending machines to select subway stations throughout NYC.
A dozen machines will be rolled out over 10 subway stations as part of a pilot program that will offer accessible personal protective equipment to straphangers. Items that will be available for purchase through the vending machines include reusable face masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes. As of now, the locations include:
- 14 St-Union Square
- 34 St-Herald Square (two machines)
- 34 St-Penn Station
- 34 St-Penn Station
- 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal
- 42 St-Times Square (two machines)
- 59 St-Columbus Circle
- 74 St-Roosevelt Av
- Atlantic Av-Barclays Center
- Lexington Av
The MTA has also said that 2 million single-use masks will be distributed at station booths in addition to hand sanitizer. Interim President of MTA New York City Transit, Sarah Feinberg, said in a statement,
“The national increase in Covid-19 cases shows how important it is for us to maintain vigilance on use of masks and other PPE. We want to make it as easy as possible for customers who may not have masks to get them so they can ride the subway. Wearing a mask is the single most important thing our customers can do to protect themselves and those around them – and more than that, it’s absolutely required to ride the system.”
Eight machines will be ‘Vengo’ machines stocked by food service company Canteen, and the other four will be ‘Simply’ by the vending machine company Swyft.
Also published on Medium.