Incoming MBTA Interim GM Looks To 'Right The Ship'
BOSTON (CBS) -- The next head of the state's troubled transit system says he's eager to get started and regain the trust of frustrated riders.
The MassDOT Board of Directors announced Wednesday that state Highway Administrator Frank DePaola would take over on an interim basis from MBTA General Manager Beverly Scott on March 4. Service was severely limited for weeks and sometimes shut down entirely as record-setting snowfall took its toll on the T.
"I'm personally vested in the T's success," DePaola, the former MBTA assistant general manager for design and construction, told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Joe Mathieu Thursday morning. "I want to make sure they recover and get going back on track."
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When DePaola was asked if he rides the T himself, he said he mostly sticks to the highways because of his current job.
"But I certainly will start using the service to see how it performs," he said.
While subway lines are nearly back to a normal schedule, delays have persisted on the commuter rail. Commuter rail operator Keolis is expected to release a recovery plan soon, DePaola said.
DePaola said his first priority is to restore service, and then do a "deeper dive" to figure out what went wrong.
"We all feel let down to a certain degree at what happened," he said. "I will do everything I can to right the ship and to assure [riders] that going into next winter, they'll have a more reliable system."
Some riders have called for refunds because of the poor service, and DePaola said that's something the MBTA should look into at the next board meeting.
"I think it's something we need to discuss," he said. "I fully understand why people are looking for some return on their value."
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports:
