By Haley Costen
Staff Writer
“Today ‘miserable’ is spelled ‘MBTA,’” WBZ News correspondent Pam Cross said Tuesday morning as citizens shoveled mountains of snow behind her.
A day before Boston was hit with yet another snowstorm on Tuesday, Beverly Scott, Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority general manager, announced that it could take up to a month for the transport system to return to full operation, according to the Boston Globe.
“We share and care about the frustration of our customers,” said Scott. “We’re all very, very sorry.”
While it’s possible full service could be restored more quickly, Scott said another storm could push that date beyond even a month.
More than 30 trains were cancelled on Tuesday on eight of the twelve commuter rail lines, with other lines facing delays between 15 and 90 minutes.
Meanwhile, the subway has shown some signs of improvement, with service extending farther than anticipated by MBTA officials, and with buses replacing rail service on parts of the Orange, Red, and Green lines.
The city has increased its efforts to remove snow, with the MBTA paying $30 an hour to workers who help clear snow, and with about 80 inmates from the Department of Corrections working on snow removal, according to CBS.
The inmates, part of the Community Work Program (CWP), have been deployed across Suffolk County under the eye of city’s Inspectional Service Division (ISD) and Mayor Marty Walsh’s direction, according to a Suffolk County Court press release.
Governor Charlie Baker said in a conference on Tuesday that he was unaware of the MBTA’s timeline for full service, according to the Boston Globe, but he expressed his dissatisfaction with Keolis, the commuter line operator.
“I’m really looking forward to having the officials from Keolis in for a chat. I’m certainly not satisfied with their performance,” he said.
During the press conference, Walsh encouraged people to be understanding during the snowy conditions.
“I’ve been struck over the last couple days how Bostonians have pulled together,” Walsh said. “It’s important that we stay focused and not let the frustration get the best of us.”
