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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — As New England prepares for a massive winter storm arriving Saturday, Jan. 29, the MBTA is releasing its service changes and updates for the day of the storm.
In light of the weather, the MBTA is urging commuters to not travel Saturday. However, a spokesperson said if people must use public transit, they should check the MBTA's website or its Twitter account for updates.
The majority of the MBTA's services are expected to run as usual, with the chance of delays due to weather, according to a statement from the MBTA. However, some services will be suspended during the storm.
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The Mattapan Line will be suspended Saturday, in an effort to prevent any damage to the 75-year-old trolleys. Shuttle buses will run on the Mattapan Line instead of trolleys throughout the day. Commuter boat service between Charlestown and Long Wharf will also be suspended Saturday.
Bus routes are expected to run as normal, but as conditions worsen, many bus routes could be re-routed to avoid steep hills, tight corners, and narrow streets. MBTA spokesperson Joe Pesaturo said they'll be adding more personnel to make sure buses and trains can run during the storm.
"Increased staffing will be present throughout the system with rail-borne snow-fighting equipment pre-deployed at key locations around the rapid transit network," Pesaturo said. "The T also has contractors at the ready for snow clearing along key bus routes and T facility/employee parking, freeing up T personnel to concentrate on core system functions."
In addition, service changes will be coming to various train lines over the weekend and into next week. These include the Green Line D Branch, Green Line E Branch, Mattapan Line and Orange Line. Also the Fitchburg and Rockport Commuter Rail lines will have service changes starting next week.
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Overnight and into the morning, non-passenger trains will work to keep the tracks clear and look for any trees or branches that could pose a threat. Snow plow-equipped trains will be running on all subway and commuter rail lines throughout Saturday to help keep tracks clear.
Crews will be on standby to fix any issues on the rails, as well as to inspect overhead wires on the Blue and Green lines—those trains will also operate with special ice cutters to remove any ice buildup on the wires. Flood protection barriers have also been deployed at the Long Wharf entrance to the Aquarium Blue Line station.
Several planned service changes have been canceled due to the winter storm. As the storm progresses there may be additional service changes. For the latest information, please visit mbta.com/winter.
For any changes and updates, Pesaturo said to look at their Winter Weather page on their website.
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