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‘We know this morning was frustrating for many’: Reopened Blue Line hobbled by signal problems
The transit agency said it would not collect fares on the Blue Line or the East Boston ferry on Monday.
The MBTA acknowledged Monday it should have “responded sooner” as signal problems snarled travel on the Blue Line during the morning commute and through the day.
The disruptions came as the subway line reopened following a nine-day suspension of rail service to accommodate infrastructure work. In a statement around 11 a.m., the MBTA said that while restoring the Blue Line overnight, “our signals did not function as intended, causing significant delays to morning service.”
The transit agency said it would not collect fares on the Blue Line or the East Boston ferry on Monday as a result.
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Service on the Blue Line was suspended between Bowdoin and Orient Heights from June 7 to the 15th. During the closure, commuters had the option of using shuttle buses, the Silver Line, or the East Boston ferry for free.
Just before 6 a.m. on Monday, the MBTA said shuttle buses were continuing to replace service between Government Center and the Airport to allow the completion of overnight track and signal work. By around 7:30 a.m., the agency said regular service was being resumed and shuttle buses were being “phased out.”
But then around 8:15 a.m., the MBTA reported a 30-minute delay due to a signal problem, announcing just before 11 a.m. that shuttle service would again replace train service due to “multiple signal issues at Maverick.”
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“We initially believed that service was ready to resume so the majority of shuttle buses were released and signage was removed prematurely, compounding the issue,” the MBTA said Monday around 11 a.m.. “We should have identified & responded sooner & regret these missteps. We know this morning was frustrating for many.”
The MBTA pledged it would deploy crews after the morning rush to revolve the issues and send out extra staff to assist riders navigating the disruption.
Around 4 p.m., the transit agency said regular service had resumed, but warned that riders could experience “longer wait times and delays throughout the day due to an ongoing signal problem near Maverick.”
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