Photo: WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will conduct an emergency response exercise on the Blue Line in the Orient Heights Yard area on Sunday.
Service for the Blue Line will already be suspended between Airport and Wonderland between Aug. 9 to 17 in order for crews to replace and resurface thousands of feet of track and railing as part of infrastructure upgrades. Commuters will have access to shuttle buses during that time.
While the exercise is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., the MBTA is warning surrounding neighbors and businesses that heightened activity in the area may begin at 6 a.m. The drill will include real-life scenarios, including passenger extrication, treatment of injured riders, and the evacuation of passengers.
Read More: Blue Line Service Resumes After Downed Wire Caused Delays
According to a press release, the practice is for transportation and public safety officials to rehearse emergency response plans, policies, and procedures as they pertain to mass casualty events on the MBTA subway train. Several agencies will participate in the event, including the Revere Police and Fire Department, Cataldo Ambulance, and the Federal Transit Administration.
The exercise follows a massive evacuation of Blue Line riders in July due to a signal problem. A downed wire forced hundreds of people to walk through a tunnel under Boston Harbor. It took firefighters one hour to evacuate everyone.