Red Line Subway Evacuation Drill

CAMBRIDGE - The MBTA will conduct an emergency response exercise at the Alewife MBTA Station on Saturday, October 29th, at approximately 9:00 a.m. The exercise is designed to establish a learning environment for public safety officials to exercise emergency response plans, policies, and procedures as they pertain to a smoke incident inside a subway tunnel and station. Media and other observers are invited to attend.

While the exercise is scheduled from approximately 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., surrounding neighbors can expect heightened activity in the area starting at 7:00 a.m.

To ensure an effective exercise, subject matter experts and representatives from numerous agencies took part in the planning process, and will take part in conducting the exercise and in its evaluation.

The exercise scenario centers on a train coming to an emergency stop outside Alewife station, whereupon smoke starts to fill the tunnel and train cars. A chain of notifications will initiate a public safety response to this simulated incident. Some 60 volunteers from the public are expected to participate in this exercise in the role of MBTA customers.

The exercise is a collaborative effort involving multiple public safety and transportation stakeholders including MassDOT, the MBTA, MBTA Transit Police, Cambridge Fire Department, Somerville Fire Department, and Arlington Fire Department.

Agencies participating in this exercise include the MBTA, MBTA Transit Police, Cambridge Fire Department, Cambridge Emergency Communications Department, Somerville Fire Department and Arlington Fire Department.