photo by: Journal-World File Photo

In this file photo from Jan. 18, 2016, a Lawrence Transit System bus stops just south of Seventh and Vermont streets.

Following Monday’s federal court ruling, effective immediately, masks on the Lawrence Transit system are now optional for riders and employees, according to a news release from the City of Lawrence Tuesday morning.

This change comes as a result of the Transportation Security Administration suspending enforcement of masks rules on public transportation in the wake of the court ruling. U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Florida ruled Monday that the federal mask mandate on planes, trains, buses and other modes of public transportation is “unlawful.”

“Our mask mandate enforcement is based on federal guidance,” said Adam Weigel, Lawrence’s transit and parking manager. “We encourage everyone to monitor public health information and make decisions aligned with their needs.”

The University of Kansas on Tuesday afternoon also sent notice to students and others that it was no longer requiring masks on KU on Wheels buses. KU officials also cited the federal ruling in deciding to make masks optional for riders.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend that people wear masks in indoor public transportation settings.