MBTA Begins System Upgrades To Prepare For Next Winter
BOSTON (CBS) — The MBTA began making system upgrades on Monday, in an attempt to prepare for next winter.
Much of the T's systems suffered catastrophic damage after this winter's heavy snow. Some of the damage affected the third rails, which provide the trains with the power they need in order to run properly.
According to MBTA Interim General Manager Frank DePaola, a train can't run if its power source is iced over.
"Rail does wear out over time, and as it wears the contact surfaces become less reliable. And when you put in weather conditions of the winter—ice, snow— it interrupts the flow of power to the train," said DePaola. "So that's why upgrading that third rail will do a lot to make sure that we can run more reliably."
The plan is to replace the heaters and switch heaters of the third rails that are outdoors and will potentially face harsh weather next winter.
"Upgrading the third rail heaters and the switch heaters will be able to, to a much higher extent, reliably provide that power," said DePaola.
The MBTA started with the Orange Line, and will then work on upgrading the Red Line. The project is expected to take five years, and will cost almost $84 million.
For the next few weeks, there will be shuttle buses running between Oak Grove and Wellington starting at 8:45 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. There will be no work done Fridays and Saturdays.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karyn Regal reports
