Mass.: MBTA cutting weekday service on subways in response to federal safety directives

Also: MBTA Slashing Service on 3 T Lines All Summer Amid MBTA Safety Probe (WBTS-TV)

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Source: WCVB-TV

MBTA cutting weekday service on subways in response to federal safety directives

Updated: 4:20 PM EDT Jun 17, 2022

BOSTON — Weekday service on the three of the MBTA's busy subway lines will be cut to Saturday-like levels throughout the summer as the agency responds to recent directives issued by the Federal Transit Administration during a safety review.

The Federal Transit Administration's review began in May in response to a series of derailments, collisions, fatalities and other incidents. That review was scheduled to end Friday with a final meeting involving FTA officials and the MBTA.

On Wednesday, the FTA issued a series of directives to the MBTA and the Department of Public Utilities, ordering the Massachusetts agencies "to take immediate action on safety issues."

The federal inspection found the MBTA's Operations Control Center "is not appropriately staffed," which creates "an increased safety risk."

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Read more: https://www.wcvb.com/article/mbta-cutting-weekday-service-on-subways-in-response-to-federal-safety-directives/40323456#

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Source: WBTS-TV/NBC Boston

MBTA Slashing Service on 3 T Lines All Summer Amid MBTA Safety Probe

An MBTA representative said that "these new timetables allow the MBTA to schedule dispatchers in compliance with Federal Transit Administration directives, and continue delivering service in a safe and reliable manner"

By Asher Klein and Michael Rosenfield • Published June 17, 2022 • Updated 3 hours ago

Facing subway dispatcher staffing challenges, the MBTA is cutting service on the Red, Orange and Blue lines all summer starting Monday, the embattled agency said Friday.

Those three lines will run on a Saturday schedule during the week — except on July 4, when there will be regular weekday service to accommodate crowds heading to and from Independence Day celebrations. Weekend service, and Green Line service, will remain the same, according to the MBTA.

A federal agency this week ordered the MBTA to quickly address major safety issues in several areas, including safety certification for staff members.

"With a limited number of dispatchers, these new timetables allow the MBTA to schedule dispatchers in compliance with Federal Transit Administration directives, and continue delivering service in a safe and reliable manner," an MBTA representative said in a statement.

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Read more: https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/3-t-lines-shifting-to-weekend-schedule-all-summer-amid-mbta-safety-probe/2750674/