Traveling on the T > Security Initiatives

Security Initiatives

To our customers:

Thank you for taking an interest in the MBTA's initiatives and programs for keeping our multi-modal transit system safe and secure for the hundreds of thousands of people who use it everyday.

At the MBTA, customer safety is our top priority. While customers are valued and respected, they are also relied upon to help us detect and prevent any potential threats to safety and security.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Safety Department, in conjunction with emergency responders from the Boston Fire Department, Boston Emergency Medical Services, the Transit and Boston Police Departments, conducted a full-scale emergency response exercise on December 10, 2005 in the Silver Line tunnel in South Boston.

The exercise centered on a simulated mass casualty incident involving a 60-foot Silver Line vehicle with passengers just outside of Courthouse Station. Numerous emergency responders were dispatched to the scene after an initial report of an explosion in the tunnel. The purpose of the exercise, observed by MBTA General Manager Daniel Grabauskas, was to ensure an efficient and professional operational response to an actual emergency situation. It was also an opportunity for Boston Fire and Rescue personnel to familiarize themselves with the one-year old tunnel. Click on Emergency Response Exercise to view.

Under the Transit Watch program, the eyes and ears of our customers are valuable tools in the continuing effort to maintain a safe transit environment. Alert passengers who observe activities or things that seem out of place or out of the ordinary are asked to report such instances to a uniformed MBTA employee or to call MBTA Police at (617) 222-1212.

Examples include:

• An unattended package or bag on a seat or a platform.
• Unauthorized people in a seemingly restricted area.
• Suspicious behavior or disorderly conduct.
• Unexplainable odors, substances, or smoke.

In the simplest terms, the message comes down to this: If you see something, say something. Together, we can make a difference.