The MBTA is inspecting 24 Green Line cars after mechanical failures caused service disruptions in downtown Boston on Patriot’s Day.
An agency spokesman confirmed that a car was disabled Monday afternoon at the Boylston station, causing service delays and replacements for shuttle bus service in the downtown area . Service resumed later in the afternoon, but not before the problems sparked a chorus of complaints on social media, including passengers who reported being stuck on trains while waiting for updates.
Inspections are limited to “Type 9” cars, which are the new generation of Green Line cars in service. The MBTA’s vehicle maintenance team will examine them to make sure they work “in a safe and reliable manner.” Despite ongoing inspections, service has returned to normal as of Tuesday.
Patriot’s Day is one of the city’s busiest days of the year, with the Boston Marathon attracting hundreds of thousands of runners and spectators from around the world. With parking even more limited than usual with the Marathon road closures, visitors are encouraged to take the T. There was also a Red Sox game earlier in the day and a Bruins playoff game for end the night Combine that busy day with a transit agency already under scrutiny for a litany of problems, including safety concerns, slowing service and a critical staff shortage, and it’s no wonder the system’s performance is under a microscope
On a typical weekday, the Green Line sees about 88,000 riders, according to the MBTA dashboard.
The Federal Transit Administration ordered the T to correct ongoing safety and understaffing concerns last year. But reaching healthy employment levels will be a challenge — a recent analysis found the agency could start the next fiscal year 20 to 25 percent below what’s needed — and there were thousands of jobs to fill. .
Recruiting for all of these positions has been cited as one of the top issues for incoming CEO Philip Eng, who has pledged to increase hiring. Recent staff shortages have led to longer wait times and reduced T service for users.
