Boston Transit Chief Resigns in Wake of System Storm Performance

Beverly A. Scott, general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, announced her resignation on Feb. 11 following criticism by Gov. Charlie Baker (R) of “T” transit performance that left thousands stranded during two system-wide shutdowns in a string of epic snow storms.

Gov. Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito (R) said in a statement the same day, they were “surprised” to learn of Scott's resignation. She will stay on until April 11 while a search for a successor is conducted.

Scott

Frustrated by the second system-wide shutdown on Feb. 10 and with another storm brewing, Baker reportedly said that whatever [operating] plan the MBTA was using was not working, but maintains he did not force Scott out. The same day he issued the second of two states of emergency since late January and urged all non-emergency state workers in four counties to stay home.

On Feb. 12, the governor met with MTBA officials to assess the issues that have plagued the agency in recent weeks and develop operational and maintenance plans.

“We value Dr. Scott and her team’s efforts during this historical winter which has posed incredible challenges to our transportation system, and we appreciate the hard work of the MBTA employees who are still operating around the clock to help commuters,” Baker said in a Feb. 12 statement.

"I am stunned by the resignation of Dr. Scott,” said John Jenkins, chairman of MassDOT’s board of directors. “Be clear, this board has had no discussions at any time about her tenure as general manager. We hoped and expected that she would fulfill her three year contract, which ends in December.”

“We value Dr. Scott and her team’s efforts during this historical winter which has posed incredible challenges to our transportation system,” Baker said in a Feb. 12 statement.

Jenkins said the Board to direct a nationwide search to replace Scott, who was named to head MBTA and state DOT's rail-and-transit division in 2012. The first woman to serve in those roles in Massachusetts, she had been CEO and general manager of the Metropolitan Atlanta Transit Authority (MARTA) and led transit agencies in Sacramento and Rhode Island.

Over the next 60 days, Scott said she “will place priority on working with our team to return ‘T’ services to normalcy following these unprecedented weather conditions.”

Scott also plans “to develop the first cut of an emergency enhancement and resiliency plan, including a peer ‘best’ practices assessment and finalize the fiscal year 2016 budget proposal."

Johanna Knapschaefer, ENR’s New England Special Correspondent, has been writing about trends in design and construction of buildings, bridges, tunnels and other infrastructure for more than a decade. She also profiles award-winning industry leaders and delves into broader construction issues such as workforce training, worker safety and health, climate change remediation and emerging offshore wind and tidal energy developments. Over the past two decades, her articles have appeared in Architectural Record, BusinessWeek, the Boston Globe, American Banker, Modern Metals, BusinessNH Magazine, Pittsburgh Magazine and many other publications. Johanna is fluent in Japanese, and taught English and academic writing in the Science and Engineering Department of Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, while living in Japan for eight years.

When not writing, Johanna enjoys mountain climbing, singing and playing her Spanish guitar.

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