Worcester Commuters React to MBTA Mismanagement and Snow Delays

Friday, February 13, 2015

Matthew Wright and Patrick Sargent

Union Station (Photo Credit: Matthew Wright)

On Wednesday, MBTA General Manager Beverly Scott announced her resignation. The MBTA has come under criticism from Governor Charlie Baker's administration this week following several delays and a complete shutdown on Tuesday due to Monday's snowstorm.

Baker said, “We’ve been frusturated and disappointed with the performance of the ‘T'," said Baker. "We spent a lot time over the course of the weekend, talking to the folks at the T to make sure they were able to run an abbreviated schedule (Monday). The fact is that even that abbreviated schedule hasn’t been able to be maintained and once it stops snowing, we plan to have a long conversation with folks at the T with improving performance.”

Scott's resignation will be effective April 11. In her resignation letter, Scott said, "In her letter, Scott concluded: "No question, much more needs to be done to achieve the modern, and first-class public transportaion system that all want and deserve."

Commuters React to Daily Delays at Union Station

On Thursday morning, GoLocal went to Union Station in Worcester to get reaction from local commuters on the delays caused by the snowstorms and Scott's resignation. The 8:28 AM train to Boston was 18 minutes late on Thursday morning.

"If you are asking me if the trains are late, yes. All the time. They are late today. Last week was terrible, we got stuck and they kicked everyone off the train in Framingham. There was about 45 people, including kids stuck outside in the cold," said David Yanton, who takes the commuter rail from Union Staton every day.

Riya Midra shares the same concerns as Yanton. Midra said, "I don’t drive, the commuter rail is how I get to work. It’s been cumbersome both going to work and coming home. Snow cleaning has not been up to standard. We don’t live in a third world country. I feel the effort is not good enough with the huge infrastructure we have in this country. Even the stairs are not shoveled at the stops. I’m worried I’ll go tumbling down them.”

Union Station (Photo Credit: Matthew Wright)

Caroline Nembhardt, who also takes the commuter rail every day, feels that the efforts of the MBTA are satisfactory. Nembhardt said, “They are trying to do the best they can. Yesterday and today they were late. I think the schools and employers are lenient because they know how difficult it is to get anywhere. I can’t really fault them for the amount of snow we’ve gotten.”

“The MBTA has been good with their communications. I follow them on twitter and sometimes check the website for delays. Sometimes they don’t tell us what lines are affected. You’ll get to a stop and you’re left wondering what happened, where is the train, did it break down? I’m accustomed to a train at 7:30 AM, then they tell you the next one isn’t coming until 8:50 AM. They communicate good in Boston, but not on the commuter rail. I don’t think anyone anticipated this winter," said Louis Daplima. Daplima takes the Commuter Rail Monday thru Thursday.

Corinna Kuhara, who takes the commuter rail four days a week said, "“I was only late once, last Saturday. There was a problem with the brakes. After Framingham, the train only went 25mph. I’ve been lucky I have a job that will let me work from home.”

MBTA Problems Year-Round

Governor Baker said on Monday, "This is obviously a big issue. When the weather is bad, as it has been lately, the public transportation system needs to work. Once the snow stops, there's going to be an opportunity for us to do some heavy debrief on this. And let's face it, this can't happen again. It's been very difficult to count on the represenatations that have been made by the T over the course of the past few weeks. The first time it happens, you can blame that on the weather, but after a while, it starts to feel like something more."

In response to Scott's resignation, Midra said, “It’s not one person that’s going to fix this, it’s the entire workforce and infrastructure. It’s not just during the winter. There are problems in the summer."

Kuhawara said, "I feel bad, she (Scott) has been criticized for everything. It was a surprise.”

On normal days, trains leave from Union Station to Boston 20 times starting at 4:45 AM, with the last train leaving shortly after midnight.

(VW Photo Credit: Matthew Wright)