Gov. Charlie Baker once had the foresight to tackle the T’s problems head-on. Where is that energy, now that a derailment, a bloody escalator malfunction and a report predicting “fiscal calamity” have Thrust the MBTA’s true state of slow decay back into public view?
The MBTA warned commuters of delays on one of its commuter lines this morning because of a “slow speed” derailment Thursday afternoon.
The MBTA for years failed to conduct key maintenance and inspections, apply industry-wide safety standards or ensure accountability on its core transit, an independent panel concluded in a report released Monday.
MBTA officials have received laboratory test results that they believe will help identify the cause of a June 11 Red Line derailment, but do not plan to make the findings public until later this month, despite previously saying they expected an answer by now.
In the 13 days since a Red Line train with 60 aboard derailed in Dorchester, MBTA officials have been hesitant to offer an exact estimate of when full service would be restored, citing the complexities of repairing signal infrastructure wiped out by the careening six-car set.
Fallout from last week’s Red Line derailment can now include a new push to change the MBTA’s governance structure.
