Customer Success
Metrolinx
Cleaner Surface, Safer Ride
PROJECT
Metrolinx
Industry
Transportation
Location
Ontario, Canada
PROJECT
Metrolinx
Industry
Transportation
Location
Ontario, Canada
The Challenge
During the COVID-19 pandemic, a wave of lockdowns, social distancing measures, and virus-related concerns resulted in steep declines in demand for public transit in Canada. Recorded data in March 2020, the first month of nationwide lockdowns, witnessed a drop of nearly 83 percent as compared to the same period in the year prior.
While work from home directives definitely played a part in the lower transit numbers, the apprehension around the risks of confined spaces affected casual riders, too. Studies indicated a “high transmission risk” for COVID-19 among transit passengers, with a clear recommendation to enforce physical distancing measures and frequent sanitization to prevent outbreaks.
Public transit is often a breeding ground for viruses and bacteria. A 2018 study conducted by CleanSlate UV showcased just how contaminated public surfaces on its trains can be.
In 2020, the Greater Toronto Area’s (GTA) largest transit system saw commuter numbers plummeting, making it critical for them to instill confidence in their sanitization practices and reassure the public that their trains were clean, with low risks of virus transmission. At the same time, the solution had to be understood easily by commuters and fast enough to be used in a rapid transit setting.
The Deployment
Cleanslate UV sanitizers were deployed across multiple train stations and express lines in the GTA. This deployment was part of a wider safety program, a pandemic response to ensure everyone remains healthy. In partnership with Metrolinx, as they continue to lead the way in passenger hygiene and sanitization, 24 CleanSlate UV sanitizers across 22 locations were installed.
CleanSlate UV sanitizers can be found at two UP Express stations, two employee facing locations and 18 GO Transit stations, including Union Station. Each sanitizer can sanitize up to four smartphones in one 20 second cycle. Passengers will be encouraged to sanitize their phones, wallet, keys, PRESTO cards and other hand held items while they sanitize their hands.
Figure 1: CleanSlate UV deployments at Metrolinx stations
Figure 2: Map of CleanSlate deployments at Metrolinx
The Impact
Since deployment, there has been over 200,000 CleanSlate UV sanitizer cycles, disinfecting over 350,000 devices. From this, over 4 billion pathogens per in² of devices sanitized were inactivated and over 2,700 lbs of wipes were prevented from going into landfills each year. Metrolinx also uses the CleanCloud Software Suite to improve the efficiency of operations for bulb replacements in all their stations across the GTA.
The CleanSlate UV research team aimed to analyze how commuters were interacting with the product in the real world and investigate the effectiveness of sanitization. The team also wished to determine if having a CleanSlate device in the station made them feel safer using transit facilities, and how likely they were to use it when passing by.
For this, the team conducted a study at the UP Express Platform at Toronto Union Station. Through random selection, commuters’ phones were swabbed both before and after using CleanSlate’s 20-second sanitization cycle.
Figure 3: Impact of CleanSlate UV deployment at Metrolinx stations
While talking to the participants, it was observed that 83% of participants clean their mobile devices either daily or weekly, with 75% of participants stating that they currently use disinfectant wipes to sanitize their mobile devices. Despite this apparent push towards sanitization, 100% of participants’ phones tested positive for pathogen contamination.
All of the participants interviewed found the CleanSlate UV sanitizer to be very easy to use and stated that they understood the sanitization process right away.
As a regular GO train user, I am happy to have these machines available for my commute!
92% of participants said that they felt more comfortable visiting Metrolinx locations with the CleanSlate UV sanitizer installed. 92% of participants also said that they will use the CleanSlate every time they pass it, and the remaining 8% said they would use it every other time.
Independent testing of the CleanSlate UV sanitizer also proves that it is 99.995% effective against SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen that causes COVID-19.
Installing a device sanitization solution like CleanSlate UV promotes hand hygiene and is vital in quelling the chain of infection. As the study indicates, CleanSlate UV significantly boosts passenger comfort levels and contributes towards a safer, sanitized travel experience.
Learn More. Get In Touch with a Product Specialist.
As the leader in device hygiene, our team has the knowledge, resources and passion to help your organization implement a robust device sanitization process facility-wide.
Want to see the difference CleanSlate UV can make? We offer free product trials across the USA/Canada.
