Local News

Walsh Tempers His Call to Stop the MBTA This Weekend

Mayor Marty Walsh. The Boston Globe/Dina Rudick

By Jon Palmer and Eric Levenson

February 12, 2015

1 minute to read

A day after calling for the MBTA to shut down ahead of this weekend’s blizzard, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh issued a statement that he was hopeful the T could function during the storm. He also noted the “incredible hardship’’ closing the T would place on Bostonians.

“The MBTA has faced incredible difficulties over the past few weeks due to the historic amount of snowfall and increasingly cold weather, coupled with an aging system. Closing the T for the weekend would pose an incredible hardship to workers and people living throughout Boston. We have another big storm coming our way Saturday night into Sunday and I hope that our public transportation system can safely remain running to keep Boston open, support our local economy and get people to work.’’

Walsh urged patience and calm in the face of yet another approaching snow storm during a press conference Thursday, during which he suggested that the MBTA should shut down this weekend.

“If we get a blizzard storm on Sunday, I would suggest the T get shut down Saturday night into Sunday and possibly Monday so the proper cleanup can happen with the MBTA,’’ he said.

The mayor also said to expect a snow emergency and parking ban this weekend, but declined to say when they would be put into effect.

Walsh gave an update on snow removal efforts, saying that 10 new snow farms had been opened in Boston, with the city looking for other locations. In addition, Walsh said that two snow melters had arrived on loan from New York City. The priority now, he said, is clearing piles of snow from local neighborhood streets, where people have been dealing with large piles of snow for close to three weeks.

Walsh urged residents to think of their local florists and restaurants Saturday night for Valentine’s Day, as local businesses have been hit hard during the past few weeks of winter weather. Despite the oncoming snowstorm, he said he still plans to take his girlfriend Laurie out for Valentine’s Day dinner on Saturday night.