BOSTON — Speed restrictions introduced after the MBTA’s 30-day shutdown of the rapid-transit Orange Line will remain in place as late as December, the agency’s general manager has said.
WCVB-TV reports GM Steve Poftak informed U.S. Sen Ed Markey that the five slow orders in each direction “are scheduled to be lifted in November and December.” Those speed restrictions came to light after the group TransitMatters determined travel times on the Orange Line were slower after the shutdown, which ended Sept. 19, than they had been before the work [see “Advocacy group says MBTA Orange Line service is slower …,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 10, 2022].
The MBTA subsequently admitted it had found additional areas requiring work during the shutdown, leading to more slow orders, but its failure to inform the public about that work and its impact drew criticism during an Oct. 15 by Sens. Markey and Elizabeth Warren [see “FTA has no plans to take over MBTA …,” News Wire, Oct. 17, 2022].
Poftak’s letter was in to response to Markey’s request for information about when the slow orders would be lifted. WCVB also reports that in response, the senators welcomed the information being made public but called for more transparency from the agency.
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