MBTA trains and buses were running late more often last year, according to a new T report that blames the lack of reliability on staffing shortages and the delayed delivery of heavy rail rapid transit cars.
The MBTA on Wednesday released its second annual Service Delivery Report, which evaluated service during the fall 2022 season from Aug. 29 to Dec. 18.
According to the report, the MBTA’s reliability of service last fall generally decreased for rapid transit and bus services compared to the fall of 2021. For instance, weekday rapid transit reliability went down from 89.4% in the fall of 2021 to 86% last fall. The 86% on-time performance was below the target of 90%.
Bus reliability also declined, dropping from 70.4% in the fall of 2021 to 68.8% last fall. That was also under the on-time performance target of 75%.
“Decreases in reliability are a consequence of the ongoing staffing shortages for operators and dispatchers, and the delayed delivery of heavy rail rapid transit cars,” the MBTA report reads.
“Both operators and dispatchers are directly responsible for providing transit service, so reductions among their ranks have hindered the MBTA’s ability to provide service that meets or exceeds the standards of on-time performance for certain modes,” the report added.
The Commuter Rail’s on-time service slightly decreased from 90.6% to 90% last fall, which was below the target of 92%. Ferry reliability went up from 99% to 99.7%, above the target of 99%.
The Service Delivery Report noted a number of findings, including that ridership was generally higher in the fall of 2022 as the pandemic eased.
As of winter 2022, ridership was generally at its highest levels since March 2020 and on most services, ridership during peak times resembled pre-pandemic levels.
The ongoing labor shortages brought on by the pandemic continue to prevent the full resumption of pre-pandemic service levels. Turnover and slow hiring for operators and dispatchers have resulted in staffing shortages for key positions that are needed to run frequent, reliable transit service, according to the T.
“The MBTA continues to make progress in providing a safer, more reliable service that our riders can rely on,” MBTA spokesperson Lisa Battiston said in a statement.
Battiston added, “With a commitment to worker and rider safety, the T continues to focus work in key areas that will result in meaningful improvements to service in the near term while we continue to identify process improvements and efficiencies that will further the T’s position on the path for long-term success.”