Massachusetts lawmakers returned to the thorny topic of MBTA safety on Wednesday, and as they began their latest oversight hearings, one Democratic head said federal investigators “will not help his commission.” I am dissatisfied with the fact that I chose
The Transportation Commission’s second MBTA oversight hearing was scheduled to include testimony from MBTA Board Chairman Betsy Taylor, Department of Public Works officials and frontline workers. However, as with the first hearing in July, the Federal Transportation Administration representative, who issued his 90-page final report on the T line issue on August 31, declined an invitation to attend. rice field.
Federal intervention this year appears to have accelerated MBTA safety improvements, prompting legislatures and the Baker administration to suddenly pledge hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to help turn the beleaguered transit system around. Now you can move faster.
The FTA’s chief safety officer, Joe DeLorenzo, told state legislators that the U.S. Department of Transportation “restricts employee participation in ‘legal proceedings,'” and co-chair of the Transportation Commission. One Rep. William Strauss said Wednesday that the regulation cited is an FTA “discretionary.”
Off-track, NBC10 Boston reviews recent MBTA history, the impact of the Orange Line closure, and other ongoing safety concerns and asks questions. Will current service interruptions and maintenance efforts suffice?
“I don’t understand why they aren’t helping us now,” Strauss said. “They are not forced to hide from us. They choose not to help us.” I think this is unfair to the general public and employees of T.F.T. amount of.”
“Ironically, they were happy to take questions from reporters at the press conference, but we couldn’t. I think our questions were out of scope,” Matapoiset added.
Strauss said he hoped “those who might have influence over the bureaucracy in Washington’s FTA could be persuaded to reconsider,” adding that additional public hearings the panel plans to convene. I am looking forward to the meeting.
The hearing comes just five days before the Orange Line is scheduled to reopen after being closed for 30 days. MBTA said Tuesday the work he is 82 percent complete.
One lawmaker said he expects the FTA will require states to spend billions of dollars on T. MBTA general manager Steve Poftak, who won’t be at Wednesday’s hearing, told NBC10 in Boston that the T would need $2 billion from $1.5 billion each year to modernize. Told. system.
“I take a constructive approach to all these oversight hearings,” Pokhtak said. “We will be watching with great interest. Our chairman will attend the hearing. MBTA management will not attend this hearing.”
