• Font Size    

WJZ.COM Editor's Picks

Great NFL Hair
E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

'Slippery Season' Cause For Light Rail Delays

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

   Print     Share +   
Nov 13, 2008 11:27 pm US/Eastern

'Slippery Season' Cause For Light Rail Delays

Reporting
Kelly McPherson
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ― If you're trying to save gas money by using public transportation, you're probably noticing some delays on the light rail.

Kelly McPherson reports an annual autumn event is putting light rail cars out of commission.

We see it as the fall. The MTA calls it "slippery season." After finding a cracked wheel this summer, they're being extra cautious, and it's affecting passengers.

MTA officials expect major light rail service delays due to slippery wheels.

MTA spokesperson Jawauna Greene says bus shuttles have been added, particularly for Baltimore Polytechnic and Western High School students who primarily use light rail.

The MTA has also stationed supervisors, customer service staff and officials at stations to answer questions and provide information.

The administration had announced Monday that delays and service disruptions would occur this week, with shuttle buses and one-car trains in use while personnel make necessary repairs.

Commuters were delayed thanks to only single-car trains running packed with passengers.

"Jobs don't want to hear like 'OK, you know, I'm late because of the transit administration,'" said Jannettee Ford, light rail passenger.

"It's for their safety. My family rides the system, our employees ride the system, and we want to make sure everyone is safe," said Ralign Wells, MTA Operations.

There is technology being used in some areas that works like ABS brakes on a car, and it would cut down on the effect leaves have on the light rail.  MTA says they are looking into this, but they don't know if or when that slip-side protection would be in Baltimore.

The delays will last as long as the leaves are falling and as long as trains are taken off the tracks for inspection.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

WJZ.COM's Most Popular Slideshows

You need the latest Flash player to view video content.
Click here to download.

Click here to bypass this detection if you already have the latest Flash Player.

Local News

Top News Stories

© MMIX, CBS Corporation. All Rights Reserved.