Riders complain of overcrowded Orange Line shuttle buses during Monday commute
"So this is your idea of social distancing ???"
The Orange Line is being bused between Oak Grove and Sullivan Square through April 11 due to damage from its derailment earlier this month, and customers are continuing to complain of overcrowding.
Orange Line Reminder: Shuttle buses replacing train service between Oak Grove and Sullivan Square through April 11 for ongoing infrastructure upgrades at Wellington and to address damage from the derailment. More: https://t.co/XOF9QfUKDH pic.twitter.com/FrEJgQs01d
— MBTA (@MBTA) March 29, 2021
Originally, the busing was only supposed to extend to April 4, but the T has added a week to that timeline.
A northbound train derailed at Wellington back on March 16; there were no injuries. Workers now have to address some damage as well as work on ongoing infrastructure improvements at Wellington.
“@MBTA so this is your Idea of social distancing ???” Michael Sullivan wrote on Twitter at 5:31 a.m. Monday, accompanied by a photo of what appears to be a packed bus with standing room only. He noted that this was the bus for the 5:16 a.m. ride from Oak Grove.
@MBTA so this is your Idea of social distancing ??? 5:16 shuttle bus from Oak Grove… SEND MORE BUSES !!! pic.twitter.com/lO1CDKY8sn
— Michael Sullivan (@m6sullys) March 29, 2021
Another Twitter user complained of overcrowding at 7 a.m.
“@mbta virus numbers going up and you keep piling people on shuttle buses. Great. Standing room only,” they wrote.
The official MBTA account asked which bus they were on, and the user said it was #2091 at Malden Center.
When asked by this rider on what the policy is for sending shuttle buses, the MBTA replied: “Officials in the field are to make sure buses are filled in a way as to allow for social distancing and can request that additional shuttles be made available to prevent crowding conditions.”
Boston.com reached out to the MBTA for an overall comment on the issue. An official pointed to a tweet replying to Michael Sullivan Monday morning.
“Good Morning Michael. Bus Supervisors are adding more shuttles at this time,” the MBTA tweeted at 5:36 a.m.
This isn’t the first time Sullivan, or others riders, have complained of bus overcrowding.
“Bus is packed… So much for Covid protocol…” he tweeted on March 17, the day after the derailment.
Another Twitter user identified as “Eggs at Noon” tweeted about their concerns of bus overcrowding on March 23.
“I’m very very concerned with the number of people getting on to shuttle buses at a time. I understand the situation, trying to be efficient, but having that many people huddled up during a pandemic has me more concerned that I usually am. Worried we’re creating clusters.”
The MBTA did reply to them, asking for bus information.
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