The MBTA is suspending its planned lifting of speed restrictions on the Green Line after they were due to be lifted on Saturday.
This after crews identified speed signs that need to be moved to implement block restrictions, according to the MBTA.
The T informed the runners of the break on social media.
Once again riders must plan around the T, this time with St. Patrick’s Day crowds and ongoing speed restrictions.
The MBTA’s acting chief said on Friday he was “optimistic” that the last of the global speed restrictions imposed on the T subway and light rail lines last week could be lifted by Saturday morning.
The entire Green Line remained under restriction on Friday, more than a week after an inspection of part of the Red Line triggered global speed restrictions on the T’s four heavy and light rail lines.
Still, pockets of track – around 25% of the total – will remain restricted, according to the MBTA, which means trains will not be able to travel certain sections of track at more than 25 mph, or 10 mph on restricted curves. and others. specialized track sections.
“I remain focused on the safety of the system repair. That’s what our riders want and deserve,” MBTA interim general manager Jeff Gonneville said at a press conference.
It is unclear when all speed restrictions across the system will be lifted.
He noted that a “dedicated and robust” independent investigation into what led to the slowdowns is underway. But he said he was pleased with the pace of system-wide track inspections, given how much needed to be done while keeping trains running.
Gonneville reiterated that users should continue to plan for additional travel times and longer journeys on all metro and tram lines, given the pockets of slow areas that will persist.
Next week, the T plans to unveil a new dashboard that lets riders know exactly where speeds are limited on subways and trolleys.
Riders were frustrated Thursday and Friday with speed restrictions on the MBTA.
Rail speeds were reduced on all T lines last Thursday based on the findings of a Department of Public Services inspection of the Red Line earlier in the week. He found several issues that required immediate attention, including concerns about priority one lane conditions, electrical access boxes on the right-of-way and light operations in the tunnels, and missing or inconsistent documentation. around which the repairs were actually carried out.
The sudden announcement slowed trains throughout the system. Global speed restrictions were lifted the following day for the Red, Blue and Orange Lines, but remained on the Green Line and – until Thursday – the Mattapan Light Rail.