Nov 9, 2021
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) has received the 2021 COVID-19 Gold Award for Heavy Rail Systems by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) for its innovative procurement and use of the Moonbeam3 disinfection technology during the pandemic.
The award was presented this morning at the 2021 APTA EXPO in Orlando, FL. The EXPO runs from Nov. 7 – 10, 2021.
RTA was the first transit system in the country to leverage the UV technology of the Moonbeam3 to disinfect surfaces and electronic equipment on all RTA’s modes (bus, rail, paratransit) and throughout all RTA facilities and offices.
The Moonbeam3 is especially effective in cleaning high traffic areas, K-9 vehicles, and rooms with highly sensitive electronic equipment, all which are best served by a cleaning system that does not use liquids or sprays.
“RTA is very pleased to receive this prestigious award from APTA and proud that we were the first transit system during the pandemic to use the UV technology. Prior to our application of that technology, UV was typically reserved for hospitals and settings with electronic equipment,” said Flounsay Caver, RTA’s Chief Operating Officer.
“This unit is lightweight and mobile, so our staff was able to easily transport it to any site. It is safe and plugs into a standard wall outlet. The UV-C rays can disinfect a bus in less than an hour,” he said.
The unit is especially effective for disinfecting vehicles used by Transit Police K-9 units, because chemical disinfectants are not well tolerated by the canines, Caver said.
The Moonbeam3 continues to be used in response to an incident that requires a bus or train to be removed from service and disinfected immediately. RTA cleaning crews use it alongside traditional cleaning procedures at bus districts, rail stations and in office spaces.
RTA purchased two of the Moonbeam3 units from Daylight Medical, a local manufacturer, who is now outfitting other transit systems throughout the U.S. with the new technology.
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Linda Krecic
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