On Monday afternoon MBTA General Manager Beverly Scott hosted a conference call during which she conveyed that MBTA service may not run normally for another 30 days.
Scott was joined by MBTA Deputy GM and COO Sean McCarthy, and MassDOT Emergency Management Director Randy Clarke shortly after 5 p.m. Monday.
The timeline for the MBTA’s return to normalcy came shortly after it was announced that the public transit authority will operate limited service on Tuesday with the likelihood of subway delays and possibile of cancelations.
“This is not something that we can just throw magic dust on and make it be all OK tomorrow,” said Scott.
Currently there are issues plaguing all subway lines and Commuter Rails. The Red Line is still shuttling passengers via bus from Braintree station; the Orange Line is also busing between Oak Grove and Sullivan Stations; the Green Line will subsidize service with buses from Packards Corner and Boston College along the B Line, and Northeastern and Heath St. Stations along the E Line; and the Blue Line will have arrivals and departures scheduled every seven to eight minutes between Wonderland and Bowdoin Stations.
Determining which line to tackle first and where is a matter of ridership, proximity of neighboring transit lines and access.
Most recently, the Red and Orange Lines have experienced the worst weather malfunctions including stuck switches, broken tracks, and power shortages on the third rail that have resulted in the stranding of passengers on at least three occasions.
To help temper frustrations, Scott also announced that the MBTA will be providing periodic updates on service throughout the day. If any line for whatever reason is forced out of service, Scott hopes that by dispatching the news as quickly as possible so that passengers and commuters will be able to plan their trips accordingly.
Updates in the early morning, midday and evening will be provided.
“Historic snow fall amounts and frigid temperatures have caused numerous delays and cancellations for the T, commuter rail and buses over the past three weeks.” added Scott. “Our staff is working nonstop to clear tracks and bus routes and get more equipment in rotation for riders, while taking this extra step to keep everyone updated and minimize wait times.”
