Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Stop Announcements Wayfinding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
MBTA pledges stepped‑up training and hardware checks after riders report poor stop announcements and wayfinding gaps
Summary
MBTA staff said they will expand training, audit automated tags and pursue vehicle and station fixes after riders reported inconsistent stop announcements, express‑train confusion and wayfinding problems for deaf‑blind and mobility‑limited riders.
MBTA accessibility staff pledged a mix of human training, equipment audits and post‑track work checks to improve the quality of stop announcements and wayfinding after riders described recurring problems that affect trip safety and independence.
Laura Brelsford of System‑Wide Accessibility summarized internal monitoring that shows announcement quality varies by line, with newer trains and automated systems producing more consistent results. "Improving announcement quality has been a major focus... our work falls into these three categories: employee‑focused initiatives, ASI tags and vehicle‑based work," Brelsford said.
Staff described efforts to replace or audit ASI (automatic station identification) tags after track work, expand stop‑announcement training for operators, use mentorship for new hires, and run operational testing audits. "We have a monthly staff announcement working group... we have a 6‑month check in with new hires and stop announcements are emphasized," Brelsford said.
Riders gave specific examples. Morrison, who identifies as deaf‑blind, said tactile wayfinding at South Station and some commuter‑rail platforms is inadequate and that phone apps are not a hands‑free solution for them: "I need something that's hands free so that I have one hand to communicate, to feel my way, to feel the tactile markers and then I need my cane as well." MBTA staff acknowledged tactile solutions do not work for everyone and offered to follow up offline to identify interim station supports.
Other riders raised operational incidents: Don recounted a bridge‑plate boarding event in which a motor person closed doors on his leg; MBTA staff apologized and said that assistance should have been coordinated. Tom Gilbert and Joanne Daniels‑Finegold suggested RTAG members participate in operator meetings so riders can convey why announcements matter.
Next steps: MBTA will continue vehicle and tag audits, integrate rider perspectives into training videos, invite RTAG into operator forums and follow up with riders who reported site‑specific problems.
