MBTA GM Was Speaking to Riders About Safety When Downtown Crossing Was Evacuated Friday
MBTA General Manager Beverly Scott was reaching out to riders about transportation safety at Park Street station as others were evacuated from a smoking train at the adjoining Downtown Crossing station Friday evening.
“She wanted to remind customers that providing them with safe and reliable service is her top priority,’’ MBTA spokesperson Joe Pesaturo told Boston.com.
Park Street is connected to Downtown Crossing through an underground pedestrian walkway.
The outreach comes after Quincy Center Station was evacuated for a smoking train only a day earlier, though Pesaturo wouldn’t confirm if Scott’s outreach was related to that incident. There, riders kicked windows out of the train to escape after it appeared the doors were stuck shut.
The MBTA said there was no fire or smoke inside of the car, though the agency was criticized by some for perceived insensitivity toward the passengers, including a remark by Pesaturo that it was “unclear at this time why some reacted in that manner.’’
Governor Charlie Baker told WHDH he was “disappointed’’ by those remarks.
“I saw the video,’’ he told the network. “It was compelling and when people get worried about circumstances and situations that seem dangerous, I think in some ways they acted accordingly.’’
Boston Fire Department spokesperson Steve MacDonald said an “electrical problem’’ on an outbound Orange Line train prompted Friday night’s evacuation.
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