If you’re not wearing a mask, you’re not going to be able use public transportation or fly out of Pittsburgh International Airport, under an executive order President Biden issued that goes into effect today.

Wearing masks as a protective measure during the coronavirus pandemic has been required since May 2020 at the airport, spokesman Bob Kerlik said.

For those who don’t have them, free masks are offered at the airport’s Landside Terminal information desk, Kerlik said.

“Public health, safety and security are always the top priority,” Kerlik said.

Wearing masks is also required by Port Authority of Allegheny County, which operates the county’s bus and light rail system, spokesman Adam Brandolph said, and the Port Authority’s system in covered under Biden’s executive order.

The Westmoreland County Transit Authority implemented a mask mandate for passengers last summer.

Authority Executive Director Alan Blahovec said masks are kept on the buses and are handed out to riders without face coverings.

The mandate has so far presented no issues.

“We have not had any problems. We’ve never had anyone refuse to wear one and hopefully that continues,” Blahovec said.

Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity began requiring masks inside the terminal building when they were mandated for Spirit Airlines passengers, which took effect May 11, said Gabe Monzo, executive director of the Westmoreland County Airport Authority.

He said no one has been asked to leave for failing to wear a mask.

“We haven’t had a major problem,” he said. “Everyone has been pretty cordial about it.”

He says the airport has installed new signage, provided by the Transportation Security Administration, to emphasize the national mask mandate for those approaching the security checkpoint.

The executive order gives TSA officials the power to enforce the mask-wearing requirement, agency spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said.

Prior to Tuesday, if a traveler entering a TSA checkpoint wasn’t wearing a mask, screeners could not force them to put one one, she said. Now, TSA will ask a person to put on a mask. If they refuse, they’ll be denied access to the secure part of an airport terminal.

The executive order requires masks when people are in airports, bus and rail stations, and while people are on planes and public transportation, including buses and rail service.

Wearing masks has been required in businesses in Pennsylvania since April and the state has required masks whenever someone leaves their home since July, under an order Gov. Tom Wolf signed.

“We don’t believe at this point that all that much is going to change,” Brandolph said.

The Port Authority’s lawyers are looking into its enforcement options, he said.

The Port Authority’s operators are also required to wear masks.

When someone doesn’t wear a mask, they supposed to be denied entry on a vehicle, Brandolph said.

Sometimes, to avoid confrontation, a person is allowed to board without a mask, but if someone won’t put a mask on, the driver will pull over and call Port Authority police.

Police have been called about 70 times for mask disputes on buses, Brandolph said.

“In the grand scheme of things 70 calls is not a lot,” he said. “We want people to be vigilant, we don’t want any sort of confrontation, but obviously mask wearing is extremely important.”

Rich Cholodofsky and Jeff Himler contributed to this report.

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