Beverly Scott, Image via MBTA

MBTA General Manager Dr. Beverly Scott held a fiery press conference Tuesday afternoon in which she defended the MBTA’s ongoing efforts to remove snow and operate in the inclement winter weather.

Members of the media bombarded her with questions about any conversations she’s had with Gov. Charlie Baker, the steps her personnel are taking to get the T up and running again, and her future as the MBTA’s GM.

An animated Scott told reporters that she has yet to discuss anything with the governor, that her crews are working around the clock to repair and maintain service, and that she’s engaged in any talks about resigning.

“Anything that’s happened, it’s me,” said Scott, taking responsibility for the T’s operations. She went on to call all MBTA employees who are out clearing snow “poetry in motion.”

MBTA trolley, subway and commuter rail service was suspended Monday night after 7 p.m. and all day Tuesday because of power outages, switch malfunctions and a lack of usable train cars due to the weather beating equipment has taken for almost three weeks on end.

There were three separate situations were passengers were stranded on disabled trains that were unable to gain traction on the electrically charged third rail, said Scott.

She painted a picture of workers out in the snow with pickaxes, shovels, and propane tanks hammering away at switches and tracks.

Gov. Charlie Baker said on Monday that the MBTA’s performance as of late is “simply not acceptable” and plans “to have a long conversation about performance.”

Scott, who reiterated multiple times that she has yet to even make the governor’s acquaintance, said that the MBTA’s problems can be traced back years. Train cars date back 30 and 40 years, she said, and some $3.5 billion of the T’s debt can be attributed to the Big Dig which notoriously ran substantially over budget.

“In these conditions, there is no set of standards out there right now,” said Scott. “We are always thinking ‘how we can, not why we can’t.'”

Gov. Baker will meet with the MBTA on Thursday.

Scott has no indication at this time of when MBTA service will be resumed, even at a limited capacity. She did say, though, that she has periodical check-ins every four hours and could have more knowledge of how the T could proceed around 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.

You can read more stories on Boston startups, technology and innovation at https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/inno