MBTA says it's on the right track for fixing major safety problems spotted by feds, but don't expect full service until the fall

By adamg on Thu, 07/14/2022 - 3:44pm

CommonWealth Magazine reports on a T update on its responses to those federal directives.

The T says it's hired back three retired dispatchers, but that it takes ten weeks to train new ones, and until the central dispatch center is fully staffed, it can't end the service cuts on the Red, Blue and Orange lines.

Topics:

The T

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Comments

Progress

By Brookley on Thu, 07/14/2022 - 4:01pm.

It's incredible how much progress you can make almost immediately when someone actually checks to see that you're doing your job. Looking forward to fully repaired track and full service, but I won't hold my breath that it's going to be in 2022.

Progress?

By Waquiot on Thu, 07/14/2022 - 6:15pm.

They need 10-15 more dispatchers, so they transferred 3 back in (7-12 needed) and are now beginning to train only 4 of the 90 applicants with the idea that not all will make it. Even if they all make it, that's a gap of 3 to 8 dispatchers in 10 weeks time.

We're screwed.

One has to wonder if there might be ...

By Friartuck on Thu, 07/14/2022 - 8:19pm.

National Guard folks who could be called up and trained...

Wasteful idea

By SwirlyGrrl on Sat, 07/16/2022 - 9:42am.

That isn't their mission and note the amount of time to train?

This sounds more like a union busting move to me - just like the MBTA not hiring anyone because Charlie froze their hiring.

Shame

By Adeas on Thu, 07/14/2022 - 10:29pm.

It’s a shame that it took a verbal lashing (and threat of a takeover( from the FTA. You’d think the Board and GM Poftak and Gov Baker would be all over this, but alas, no.

They should let the Mayors of the towns serviced by the subway manage the oversight board. Then at least we’d have some accountability.

you know what

By BiMonSciFiCon on Fri, 07/15/2022 - 9:09am.

I really like this idea

Sure, because Kim Janey...

By Friartuck on Fri, 07/15/2022 - 9:27am.

Would've excelled on such a board

Yeah I do too

By cybah on Fri, 07/15/2022 - 10:51am.

It would be a big board tho... 78 towns that would send representation.

Maybe it should be an elected official.. similar to being elected to the 'school board'.

I mean the T isn't utility like (i.e. water/sewer), where once its connected, providing the service still works (i.e. water flows, waste goes to treatment), not much is going to change.

vs a school, which is large groups of kids and getting them education. And education changes constantly.. new methods, new studies, changing student culture, adapting to tech.. and on and on and on.

The T isnt much different, its dealing with large groups of people and moving them around. And its always changing. People commute differently over time. Once it was downtown boston, now there's lots of jobs in the burbs (where there's little transit). And in planning.. we're changing as in growth so our transit situation needs to change with us.

Similar to a school. Its just constantly changing and there needs to be solid representation (and accountability). If they aren't doing their job, the riders/voters can vote them out. Right now we dont have any say at all, other than Baker. The rest are his nominees, so its his choice.

I mean the board is better than the single head, which hasnt worked at all. The board does help some. We just need the right representation at the table.

I have to correct you

By Waquiot on Fri, 07/15/2022 - 1:04pm.

I mean the T isn't utility like (i.e. water/sewer), where once its connected, providing the service still works (i.e. water flows, waste goes to treatment), not much is going to change

You may forget the period before the creation of the MWRA. Yes, utilities can fall apart. Just ask the people who used to swim in sewage in Quincy because wastewater treatment was allowed to fall apart. The T is a utility in the end, and the nuts and bolts of utilities tend to get ignored until something bad happens (like the slow orders on the Orange Line that predate the pandemic.)

That said, it would be good to get a more representative board, and more importantly a board that keeps up on things like infrastructure and human resources (how did they end up down so many dispatchers that they've been violating safety regulations, for example.)

They knew

By cybah on Fri, 07/15/2022 - 1:36pm.

(how did they end up down so many dispatchers that they've been violating safety regulations, for example.)

They knew.. they had to know. Dr Scott was complaining about this in 2014. Even I remember her saying this repeatedly

But you know, she was appointed by Deval, and incoming Charlie had to deal with her. So off with her head as soon as he could.

Then 'cost-cutting, union busting, lets outsource everything' Charlie put breakers on hiring and outsourced whatever he could. And of course, totally ignoring her warnings.

They knew. They always knew. They did nothing because being 'cost cutting' and 'no more union bros' was more important.

There’s already too many managers

By BostonDog on Fri, 07/15/2022 - 12:41pm.

I’d rather have the court appointment a single person who has a mandate to improve safety without decreasing service and has have extensive discretion to renegotiate contacts and make sweeping changes.

Renegotiate Contracts?

By SwirlyGrrl on Sat, 07/16/2022 - 9:45am.

How about funding full staffing of professionals at professional wages.

This is simply the inevitable collapse of a transit system that started decades ago because Charlie has a priapic vendetta against public transit in general.

His only regret is that it is happening while he is still in office and will be his legacy.