Monday mornings are always a drag–traffic jams, missed alarms, and weekend withdrawals often abound as another week begins. But this Monday, a full week after the Boston Marathon attacks that resulted in a citywide lockdown and 16-hour manhunt, the brisk, sunny morning has something more than a chill in the air. The people of Boston are getting back on their feet, and back to their normal schedules.
And for many Bostonians, a normal Monday schedule means boarding the T or the bus. Usually, this is no simple feat considering overpacked trains and bus delays. But this morning, a message scrolled across the LED screens of the different MBTA buses servicing commutes across the city.
‘We Are One Boston,’ some read, while others stated the now-household phrase, ‘Boston Strong.’
The unifying messages spoke to the tumultuous week that, in light of tragedy, brought Bostonians together in a mission to find justice for those responsible for last Monday’s bombings. In the events leading up to the death of suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev and the capture of his brother Dzhokhar, one MIT police officer was killed and one transit police officer, Richard Donohue, was wounded and remains in critical condition.
Whether you’re a fan of our transportation system or not, the MBTA is a central component of Boston’s urban structure. In a statement to BostInno, MBTA General Manager Beverly Scott expressed her and her company’s pride in being a part of the city.
“The MBTA is pleased to play a role in spreading the message that Boston is a city united,” said Dr. Scott. “I am so proud of the way Transit Police and MBTA personnel conducted themselves throughout the ordeal.”
In addition to displaying the Boston-united messages on their screens, the MBTA trains and buses in commute at 2:50 p.m. today will come to a halt (if it’s safe to do so) in order to honor the one-minute moment of silence that will take place citywide in honor of last week’s events and tragedies.
Check out the messages scrolling across MBTA buses on Monday morning in the slideshow below.
