Speeds will stay capped at 25 mph on the Green Line “at least” via the top of service on Saturday, an MBTA spokesperson mentioned.
Interim General Manager Jeffrey Gonneville mentioned Friday that he was “optimistic” the MBTA can be ready to raise the total line velocity restriction on Saturday morning, however points with signal placement hindered these tentative plans.
“The MBTA continues to prioritize safety and at this time cannot lift the Green Line line-wide speed restriction as further evaluation and validation of specific locations are needed,” spokesperson Lisa Battiston mentioned.
The company tweeted Saturday that crews recognized velocity indicators that wanted to be relocated to implement “block” velocity restrictions, whereas working a Green Line check practice in areas the place observe defects had beforehand been recognized.
“The MBTA has identified 30 speed limit signs that need to be relocated on the Green Line, and that work is taking place (Saturday),” Battiston mentioned. “After that work is completed, the MBTA will re-run test trains on the entire line.”
The T apologized for the continued disruption to its riders, saying that the so-called international velocity restriction can’t be lifted till this “manual process” is accomplished.
Once the total cap is lifted, the MBTA estimates 16% of the Green Line will stay lined in so-called block velocity restrictions, outlined by the company as a size of observe that features a number of defects that should be investigated or mitigated.
According to a chart ready by the MBTA, 31.9% of the heavy rail system is speed-restricted, together with 22% of the Orange Line, 24% of the Red Line and 80% of the Blue Line.
End-to-end velocity restrictions had been lifted on the Mattapan Line Thursday and on the Red, Blue and Orange Lines final Friday. The total system was slowed right down to 10–25 mph final Thursday, March 8, following unfavorable findings from a Red Line observe inspection carried out by the Department of Public Utilities.
Gonneville ordered a systemwide velocity restriction after the MBTA was unable to supply paperwork requested by the DPU, which would have confirmed the outcomes of magnetized observe inspections carried out by the T in February for many traces, and March for the Green Line.
The documentation was incomplete, and in some circumstances, lacking completely, Gonneville mentioned, making it inconceivable to know what elements of the system had been secure or the place observe repairs had been nonetheless wanted.
Karissa Hand, a spokesperson for Gov. Maura Healey, mentioned the governor has directed the MBTA to “conduct these track inspections as quickly and safely as possible and keep the public regularly updated throughout this process.”
“While initial review indicates that staff vacancies contributed to the documentation issue, the governor has directed the MBTA to conduct a thorough review of this situation and take immediate corrective actions to ensure accountability,” Hand mentioned.
“She has also directed the MBTA to thoroughly document the inspection and repair process as they work to resolve the remaining track issues.”
A validation and verification course of is underway to determine and restore observe defects, which is able to decide the place velocity restrictions could be lifted or corrective actions are wanted, Gonneville mentioned.
Prior to the extra velocity restrictions added final week, 7.5% of MBTA observe was speed-restricted, together with 12.8% of the Orange Line, 11.9% of the Red Line, and 1.6% of the Blue Line.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”
