BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority lifted the last of the global speed restrictions on its rapid transit lines on Sunday night, ending the blanket 25-mph restriction on the Green Line.
The agency said in a press release that the overall slow order had been replaced by targeted block speed restrictions, which cover about 18% of the Green Line’s route.
The block restrictions deal with defects on specific segments of track. As problems are corrected, the length of the restriction is reduced until it can be fully removed.
The MBTA imposed a systemwide 25-mph speed restriction on the evening of March 9 because it was unable to provide proper documentation for recent track inspections and repairs. That overall slow order was replaced with block restrictions on the Orange, Red, and Blue lines the next day [see “MBTA lifts blanket speed restriction …,” Trains News Wire, March 10, 2023]. A similar restriction for the Mattapan Trolley Line was removed a week later. Still, about 25% of the system is under slow orders, WBUR Radio reports.
The T has never moved so fast. They really must have felt the pressure. Meanwhile, dear Maura, that’s Governor Maura Healey to all you who don’t live around here, is STILL searching for a new General Manager. But, but, but she said weeks ago she would have one “in weeks, not months”. At least if she had been open and honest and said “It’s going to be tough finding someone willing to take this job. I’m going to do the best I can” that would have been fine.