MBTA Plans Regularly Scheduled Service for Thursday, March 22

Updated March 21, 2018, 5:10 PM

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Service Changes

With snow and high winds expected Wednesday night and Thursday morning, the MBTA is taking proactive measures to maintain regularly scheduled service levels during and after the storm.

Because the end of the storm is expected to coincide with Thursday morning's commute, the MBTA continues to urge customers to be cautious around slippery platforms, bus stops, sidewalks, and parking areas.

The MBTA will operate regular weekday service on the Commuter Rail and on the Red, Orange, Blue, and Green Lines on Wednesday night and Thursday. Ferry service will also operate regular weekday schedules. The Wollaston Station bus shuttle that operates all day to and from North Quincy, Wollaston, and Quincy Center due to Wollaston's closure will continue to operate, though it may operate on a modified snow route if necessary.

If conditions warrant, the Mattapan Trolley Line may be replaced with dedicated bus shuttle service Wednesday night and Thursday, though the trolley will operate as long as it is safe to do so. The MBTA replaces the Mattapan Trolley with bus shuttles in order to protect the 70-year-old trolley cars from weather-related damage.

If conditions warrant, some buses may operate on their designated snow routes.

While the MBTA is not planning any changes to The RIDE operations, customers are encouraged to be mindful that snowy conditions may impact driving conditions. In addition, snow accumulation may affect drivers’ ability to gain safe access to locations not plowed or shoveled.

Preparing for the Storm

The MBTA will operate non-passenger trains overnight (early morning hours of Thursday) to facilitate clearing snow and ice from tracks, and to preemptively identify potential limbs, trees, or other debris that could pose a potential hazard to rail service. Compact track loaders will also be deployed to the Green Line to clear snow and ice from the B, C, and D Branches overnight.

MBTA emergency crews will be on standby to respond to instances of broken rail, issues affecting power systems, potential switch problems, and any water-related issues that may occur. Power crews will continue to inspect overhead wires on the Blue and Green Lines, looking for ice buildup with ice cutters installed on Blue and Green Line vehicles designed to remove ice buildup on catenary wires.

Increased staffing will be present throughout the system with snow-fighting equipment pre-deployed in key areas and snow-operating plans currently in place. Snow-fighting equipment has been pre-positioned along each of the lines, including jet snow blowers, hi-rail track loaders, and ballast regulators with auger attachments and jet blower attachments.