Boston-Area Public Transit System Tested During Snowstorms

NEWTON, Mass. (AP) — The hardy side of Boston might not extend to its aging public transit system.

On Tuesday, the head of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority staunchly defended her decision to suspend rail service for more than 24 hours as crews struggled to clear tracks of snow and ice and hundreds of thousands of commuters scrambled to make alternative travel plans.

The performance during recent storms of the MBTA — known in Boston as the T — has been criticized by Gov. Charlie Baker and raised questions about whether the aging system can be modernized enough to handle the Olympics should Boston succeed in its bid to host the 2024 Summer Games.

Officials announced that subways, trolleys and commuter rail trains, idle since Monday night, would resume Wednesday at a reduced level. Passengers were warned to expect fewer cars and less frequent service on most lines of the nation's fifth-largest and oldest system. The first underground subways in the U.S. began in Boston in 1897. ..................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/11840225/boston-area-public-transit-system-tested-during-snowstorms