MBTA Using Heavy Duty Equipment To Clear Snow, Ice Off Tracks
BOSTON (CBS) – As powerful as a jet engine with wind speeds as strong a hurricane, MBTA officials are working feverishly to clear tracks of ice and snow with equipment called the Hurricane Jet Snow Blower.
The machines are on loan from New York and were put to use on Saturday in advance of a multi-day snow event that comes on the heels of two previous storms.
"What the machine is doing is shearing ice and snow off the tracks and third rail," MBTA General Manager Beverly Scott said.
Right now it's a race against time, and weather, as another storm arrives.
"Boston asked us to come out. I know you got more snow coming. The biggest challenge is getting though the ice. The weather is so cold and it's not melting down," New York Transit worker Harvey Gonzalez said.
The continuous heavy snow fall has caused massive delays and a disabled train earlier this week, frustrating commuters like Tom Kane.
"The delays can get tiring when it's cold and you got to get into work," Kane told WBZ-TV.
Buses shuttled folks around on Saturday as MBTA officials worked on clearing the tracks and once again asked passengers to be patient.
"We feel your pain and we are trying to do everything we can," Scott said.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports
