>> I AM LIZ.

TONIGHT, GBH NEW TRANSPORTATION REPORTER BOB IS HERE TO ANSWER YOUR BURNING QUESTIONS ON MBTA SHUTDOWNS, SLOW ZONES, AND IF WE WILL EVER GET A FULLY FUNCTIONING ONE.

GOVERNOR HALEY SHARES HOW HER GENERAL MANAGER OF TRANSPORTATION HAS PERFORMED SO FAR.

THEN THE RISK OF FLOODING AS HEAVY RAIN FOLLOWS CLOSE BEHIND THE FIRST SNOWSTORM OF THE SEASON.

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE MBTA?

PARTS OF THE GREEN LINE ARE SHUT DOWN YET AGAIN AS THE AGENCY WORKS TO REPAIR TRACKS AND END SLOW ZONES.

TRANSPORTATION REPORTER BOB JOINS ME NOW ON THE STATE OF THE FIXES AND THE ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE T. WHAT IS HAPPENING?

BOB: THEY ARE BEGINNING WHAT WILL BE A YEAR LONG PROJECT TO REPAIR ALL OF THE SLOW ZONES, SOME 170 ALONG THE T AND WE ARE STARTING WITH THE GREEN LINE.

SUPPOSEDLY, THEY ARE IN THE PRIORITY OF NEED SO THE GREEN LINE IS ESPECIALLY NEEDY BECAUSE WORK WAS DONE LAST MONTH SO PEOPLE MIGHT BE WONDERING, DID WE DO THIS LAST MONTH?

WELL, THERE IS SO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE, ACTUALLY, THAT THIS IS WHY THEY ARE CONTINUING.

LIZ: REMIND US WHAT THAT WORK IS THAT IS BEING DONE.

BOB: BASICALLY, THEY ARE REBUILDING THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.

THEY ARE FIXING THE TRACKS.

THEY ARE FIXING THE BALLAST UNDER THE TRACKS.

THEY ARE FIXING THE POWER SYSTEMS AND THE SIGNAL SYSTEMS.

LIZ: OK, OK. THAT’S A LOT OF WORK.

AND SO PEOPLE SHOULD JUST BE CHECKING TO SEE WHEREVER THEY ARE WHAT THE LATEST NEWS ON THE SCHEDULE FOR THE GREEN LINE.

BOB: THE MBTA HAS AN ACTUAL SCHEDULE FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR AND I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE BECAUSE IN THE PAST, THE T WAS REACTING TO EITHER DERAILMENTS OR TRACK PROBLEMS OR WHATEVER.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE ACTUALLY HAD A PLAN TO SYSTEMATICALLY FIX WHAT IS WRONG.

LIZ: IS THAT SOMETHING RELATIVELY NEW?

BOB: YES.

LIZ: WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

DO WE HAVE A BIG PICTURE NOW, YOU KNOW, ARE WE GETTING IN GEAR ON THE REBUILDING MASTER PLAN?

BOB: I THINK IT’S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE FOR THE PUBLIC TO REALLY SEE BUT SO FAR, THE PERCENTAGE OF TRACKS THAT HAVE SPEED RESTRICTIONS HAVE DECREASED FROM 21 TO 16% JUST IN THE LAST MONTH OR SO.

LIZ: THAT MIGHT BE COLD COMFORT TO SOME.

BOB: AT LEAST IT IS GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THAT FOLLOWS WORK ON THE RED LINE AND ALSO EXTENSIVE WORK ON THE GREEN LINE.

I THINK WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE IS GRADUALLY A REDUCTION IN NOT AS LATE AS IT USED TO BE AND THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT GIVES SOME HOPE TO T RIDERS.

LIZ: WHAT ABOUT THE GRAND PLAN?

IS THERE A PRIORITY THEY ARE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW, GREEN LINE SLOWDOWNS ASIDE?

BOB: THERE WILL BE WORK ON EVERY LINE OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS SO PEOPLE’S HEADS MAY BE SPINNING.

YOU HAVE TO KEEP ATTENTIVE TO THE INFORMATION COMING FROM THE T BUT THIS IS A SYSTEMATIC PLAN SO THAT IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT AS THEY PROGRESS.

YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE SPEED RESTRICTIONS REDUCED AND PLEDGES THAT BY THE END OF 2024, ALL OF THOSE WILL BE GONE.

LIZ: THAT IS THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE MBTA, BUT WHAT IS THE PRIORITY IN THE MASTER WE UNDERSTAND?

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT ERASING SLOW ZONES.

IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS GOING TO BE TACKLED?

THE ERASING OF SLOW ZONES IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE RIDERSHIP IS 50% AND PEOPLE WILL NOT TAKE THE TEA UNTIL IT BECOMES MORE RELIABLE AND FASTER SO THAT IS THE IMMEDIATE GOAL IS TO DO THAT, SO WE CAN START TO GET MORE FAIR REVENUES -- FARE REVENUES BECAUSE BEING DOWN 50% IS PRETTY SERIOUS.

THERE IS A QUESTION TO THE FISCAL FUTURE OF THE T, IT HAS TO INCREASE ITS RIDERSHIP.

LIZ: A MARKETING BUDGET IF YOU ARE TACKLING A 50% DOWN RIDERSHIP QUESTION.

WHAT IS NEXT?

WHAT IS ANOTHER PRIORITY THAT THEY PLAN TO TACKLE?

BOB: NEXT MONTH, YOU WILL SEE WORK ON THE RED LINE BUT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE WORK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

THIS GREEN LINE CLOSURE RIGHT NOW IS ONE OF THE LONGEST, 23 DAYS THAT THEY HAVE SCHEDULED.

BUT PAST THE MBTA, THAT IS THE TOP PRIORITY RIGHT NOW.

COMMUTER RAIL SEEMS TO BE RUNNING FAIRLY SMOOTHLY.

ITS RIDERSHIP IS UP TO 90% OR MORE FROM WHAT IT WAS BUT THE MBTA RIDERSHIP, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN UP AND UNTIL THEY ARE SHOWN THAT THE SERVICE HAS IMPROVED, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GET BACK ON SO THAT IS WHY THIS IS SO CRUCIAL, THIS SLOW ZONE FIX.

LIZ: WHAT IS DIFFERENT NOW?

SIX MONTHS OR SO UNDER HIS BELT OR MORE AT THIS POINT, WHAT IS DIFFERENT?

BOB: YOU HAVE HIM COMING FROM THE NEW YORK TRANSIT SYSTEM AND IT’S LIKE I SAID TO YOU, IN A WORLD OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, THERE’S NEW YORK AND THERE’S EVERYONE ELSE.

LIZ: NEW YORKERS WILL FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE, I CAN TELL YOU.

AS A FORMER NEW YORKER, IT IS AMAZING BUT WHEN YOU GET ON THE NEW YORK CITY SUBWAY, NOWADAYS COMING FROM BOSTON, YOU SAY, THIS IS LIKE SPACE-AGE BUT IT’S NOT.

IT’S JUST BASIC.

BOB: IT IS A HUGE SYSTEM, 10 TIMES BIGGER THAN THE T. PHIL LAYING WAS IN CHARGE OF THE LONG ISLAND RAILROAD BUT BEFORE THAT, HE WAS ALSO PART OF SOMETHING CALLED A SUBWAY RESTART PROGRAM WHERE THEY REALLY TRIED TO GET THE SUBWAY BACK ON TRACK AND HE REALLY IS THE FIRST MBTA GENERAL MANAGER IN MORE THAN 10 YEARS WHO HAS HAD ACTUAL EXPERIENCE RUNNING A LARGE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND I DON’T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE THAT THE PEOPLE WE HAVE HAD TRY TO DO THE JOB MAY HAVE HAD THE BEST INTENTIONS.

THEY JUST HAVE NOT HAD THE EXPERIENCE PLUS THE FACT THAT HE HAS BROUGHT VERY EXPERIENCED PEOPLE THAT HE WORKED WITH IN NEW YORK TO SUPPLEMENT WHAT HE’S DOING SO I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE A HUGE DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU CHANGE THE MANAGEMENT OF A REAL PROFESSIONAL MANAGER IN THERE, YOU WILL START TO SEE SOME CHANGES.

LIZ: SO IT TOOK A SERIES OF DISASTERS AND ALMOST HITTING BOTTOM FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.

WHAT WAS SO DIFFICULT ABOUT THIS SORT OF INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE?

BOB: I THINK THAT THEY HAD TO FACE, AT SOME POINT, HIRING A WHOLE NEW GENERAL MANAGER AND ANTIGEN TEAM AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, THERE WAS A LOT OF PROCRASTINATION, BUT YOU GO BACK TO 2022, THE FAMOUS ORANGE LINE SHUT DOWN, WE ARE GOING TO SHUT THE WHOLE LINE DOWN FOR 30 DAYS BUT WHEN IT IS OVER, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THERE’S GOING TO BE A CHANGE.

WELL, THERE WAS NO CHANGE.

WHAT THEY DISCOVERED WAS THERE WERE MORE PROBLEMS THAN THEY THOUGHT SO THAT TO ME SHOWED THAT THE MANAGEMENT THAT WAS IN PLACE THEN WAS NOT REALLY CAPABLE OF DOING IT AND REMEMBER, THE FISCAL MANAGEMENT CONTROL BOARD SORT OF FADED OUT AFTER CHARLIE BAKER LEFT AND IT TOOK A WHILE OR FOR THE GOVERNOR TO RECONSTITUTE THE GOVERNING STRUCTURE SO THAT DID NOT HELP.

BUT RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE BEFORE, THE MBTA, THEY KNEW THE SYSTEM WAS BROKEN.

THEY JUST DID NOT KNOW HOW BADLY IT WAS BROKEN AND IT HAS TAKEN THEM MONTHS TO REALLY FIND OUT JUST WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE.

AND THEY NEEDED TO DO THAT BEFORE THEY COULD BEGIN FIXING THEM.

LIZ: I KNOW THEY LOOK DEEPLY UNDER THE HOOD BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF COMMUTERS WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO LINE UP OFFER OPINIONS.

SO WE KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE GREEN LINE.

WHAT IS THE ISSUE WITH RED LINE THAT YOU ARE DESCRIBING?

BOB: THE SAME PROBLEM.

LIZ: IT IS NOT INTRACTABLE.

-- NEW TRACK THOUGH.

BOB: YES, IT IS NEW TRACK.

SOME OF THE SYSTEMS ARE 100 YEARS OLD.

LIZ: WE ARE GOING TO TRY SOMETHING NEW AND TALKING TO YOU.

WE ARE GOING TO -- WE HAVE GONE OUT INTO THE STREET TO ASK WHAT THE COMMUTERS THINK SO WE ARE GOING TO PRESENT YOU WITH SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS.

THE FIRST QUESTION IS FROM SOMEONE FROM BOSTON.

LET’S LISTEN.

>> I AM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A SET BUS SCHEDULE FOR THE T AND IT STILL SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE RUNNING LATE.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL HER?

BOB: THE BUS SYSTEM IS A WHOLE OTHER SITUATION ENTIRELY.

THERE IS A SEVERE SHORTAGE OF BUS DRIVERS AFTER THE PANDEMIC AND IT TOOK THE T A LONG TIME TO HIRE PEOPLE BACK, MOSTLY BECAUSE THE WAGES WERE VERY POOR.

YOU HAVE TO WORK A SPLIT SHIFT, MORNING SHIFT AND AFTERNOON SHIFT, YOU HAD TO GET YOUR OWN COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSE.

THERE WAS ALL KINDS OF IMPEDIMENT THAT WERE RIDICULOUS AND THEY HAD TO DO AWAY WITH ALL OF THOSE AND BASICALLY DOUBLE THE WAGES OF BUS DRIVERS AND IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS TO THREE MONTHS, PEOPLE ARE APPLYING FOR THOSE JOBS.

LIZ: WE MAY SEE CHANGE THERE.

WE ARE GOING TO GO TO THE NEXT QUESTION.

JADE FROM BOSTON.

>> MY ONE QUESTION IS ARE THERE GOING TO BE ANY MORE BUSES FREE?

BOB: THAT IS A REALLY GOOD QUESTION AND WE WILL NOT KNOW THAT ANSWER FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER MONTH PROBABLY.

THE THREE BUS ROUTES IN BOSTON BUT THE MAYOR DECLARED FREE ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO, THAT PILOT PROGRAM IS COMING TO AN END IN FEBRUARY, AND THERE HAS TO BE A DECISION MADE AS TO WHETHER THE CITY IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO CONTINUE THAT FREE SERVICE OR WHETHER THE MBTA WILL PICK IT UP, WHICH I DOUBT, SO IT IS REALLY GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE MAYOR DECIDES TO DO BECAUSE THAT SERVICE HAS DEFINITELY IMPROVED RIDERSHIP.

THE QUESTION IS, CAN THE CITY AFFORD TO KEEP SUBSIDIZING IT?

LIZ: WE WILL STAY ON THAT AND ALL OTHER THINGS TO YOU RELATED.

IT’S GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON.

WE HOPE TO DO THAT AGAIN AND GET MORE COMMUTERS TALKING TO YOU, GIVING THEM -- GIVING YOU THEIR GRIPES, THEIR QUESTIONS, AND YOU ARE THE GUY TO ANSWER.

THANK YOU.

BOB: AND HOPEFULLY GIVING THEM HOPE.

LIZ: WE NEED HELP.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

FROM ASK BOB TASK THE GOVERNOR, SHE FEEL THE TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STATE OF THE T ON BOSTON PUBLIC RADIO TODAY.

HERE IS WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY ABOUT PHILLIP ADAMS PERFORMANCE IN OFFICE SO FAR.

TRANSPARENCY IN HER ADMINISTRATION AND HOW SHE WILL ADDRESS THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAULTY WORK ON THE GREEN LINE EXTENSION.

>> I WILL PREEMPT YOU SAYING HOW IMPRESSED YOU ARE WITH PHILIP AND SO FAR BECAUSE WE ARE, TOO.

AND WE KNOW YOU ARE.

WE HAVE READ YOU SAY IT BUT OBVIOUSLY, HE IS THE NEW HEAD OF THE T. HE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO TAKE CALLS WHICH WAS REALLY GREAT, UNLIKE HIS PREDECESSORS WHO HIT OUT HISTORICALLY BUT THAT IS OUR OPINION, NOT YOURS.

WE TALKED TO HIM ABOUT THE NARROW TRACKS ON THE GREEN LINE AND HOW VIRTUALLY THE WHOLE LINE HAS GOT TO BE EXPANDED TO DEAL WITH SLOWNESS AND SAFETY AND THAT SORT OF THING AND WE ALSO RAISED THE NAME OF THE MAN WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THE GREEN LINE EXPANSION WHEN ALL OF THIS WAS HAPPENING AND HE FOCUSED -- HE DID NOT WANT TO TALK ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY THERE.

I DON’T MEAN THIS IN A PEJORATIVE WAY.

HE SAID WE WANT TO GET THIS FIXED, THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE FARE PAYERS OR THE TAXPAYERS PAY ANYMORE.

I KNOW YOU MADE THE SAME ASSURANCE.

IF SOMEONE LIKE DALTON COVER IT UP THIS SITUATION AND POTENTIALLY PUT PEOPLE AT RISK FINANCIALLY AND IN TERMS OF THEIR HEALTH IS NOT HELD ACCOUNTABLE, WHY IS THERE AN INCENTIVE FOR ANOTHER MR. DALTON TO NOT BE THE SAME KIND OF THING WHEN SERVING STATE GOVERNMENT, GOVERNOR?

>> I THINK THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, AND I WANT TAXPAYERS AND RESIDENTS TO KNOW, I MEAN, EVERYBODY IS EXPECTED TO DO THEIR JOB, TO DO THEIR JOB WELL, CERTAINLY COMPETENTLY.

THERE IS A REVIEW ON GOING AS TO WHAT HAPPENED THERE SO I WILL LET THAT PROCEED IN WHATEVER ACTIONS NEED TO BE TAKEN.

I HAVE SAID THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE CONTRACTOR IN THIS PARTICULAR ENGAGEMENT ON THE GREEN LINE EXTENSION, THAT I DON’T WANT TO SEE A DIME OF TAXPAYER MONEY HAVING TO GO TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION, SO WE WILL SEE WHERE THEIR REVIEW PLANS.

I AM FOCUSED, AS I THINK I NEED TO BECOME ON NOW.

WHAT ARE WE DOING NOW TO MAKE THINGS MOVE FASTER AND ASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT THE PUBLIC TRANSIT IS YOUTH AND RELIABLE -- SAFE AND RELIABLE?

>> ARE WE ENTITLED TO KNOW WHY HE DECIDED NOT TO DISCLOSE THIS TO THE PUBLIC?

>> I THINK THAT REVIEW IS ONGOING AND ALL OF THAT INFORMATION WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE.

I AM NOT CREDITING WHAT YOU ARE PRESUPPOSING IN YOUR COMMENT EITHER.

I AM JUST TELLING YOU THAT OF COURSE I WILL MAKE EVERYTHING -- >> HE DID NOT DISCLOSE TO ANYBODY AS FAR AS WE KNOW INCLUDING THE GOVERNOR ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNORS SPOKESPERSON THAT THE TRACKS WERE TOO NARROW.

>> NOBODY WAS MORE PISSED OFF THEN I WAS WHEN I LEARNED THIS.

WE HAVE HAD TO CLEAN UP ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER.

I AM THRILLED THAT WE HIRED 1400 NEW WORKERS.

I AM THRILLED -- ANYBODY COMING FROM THE NORTH SHORE, YOU KNOW, THEY DELIVERED ON A PROMISE WHICH WAS, YOU KNOW, A YEAR AGO, PEOPLE WERE TOLD THAT PEOPLE WERE NOT GOING TO SEE A COMMUTER RAIL STOP FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS.

HE COMES ON THE JOB AND I SAID TO HIM, HOW QUICKLY CAN YOU GET THIS BUILT?

HE SAID DECEMBER.

HE OPENED AHEAD OF TIME SO NOW, THE GOOD NEWS IS PEOPLE COME FROM THAT AREA AND DON’T HAVE TO TAKE A BUS, DON’T HAVE TO DRIVE TO THEN GET ON A TRAIN TO COME IN.

THEY CAN GET ON AND SHAVE IN OUR OFF THEIR COMMUTE.

WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS.

THE WHOLE SHUTDOWN RIGHT NOW, WE ARE IN THE BAY.

GREEN LINE RIGHT NOW ACCORDING TO THE PLAN WE SET FORWARD WHICH IS TO ELIMINATE ALL SLOW ZONES IN LESS THAN A YEAR, THE GREEN LINE IS SHUT DOWN RIGHT NOW SO BUSES ARE GOING BETWEEN NORTH STATION AND FENWAY.

I BELIEVE IT IS JUST LIKE THESE ARE THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO TO SYSTEMATICALLY REDUCE THE SLOW ZONES.

WE ARE DOWN TO ABOUT 16% RIGHT NOW AND WE CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS.

I WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH HERE AND THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

>> WHEN YOU WERE ELECTED GOVERNOR, THE FIRST CONVERSATION WE HAD WITH YOU WAS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND HOW THIS STATE IS THE LEAST TRANSPARENT IN TERMS OF PUBLIC RECORDS OF ANY STATE IN AMERICA IS A FACT.

THAT IS NOT AN OPINION.

WE TALKED TO YOU A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO ABOUT THE FORMER SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION LEAVING ON THE PUBLIC NOT REALLY KNOWING.

YOU SAID TO US THAT IT WAS MUTUAL.

THERE WAS A NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENT WHERE SHE CANNOT CRITICIZE YOU, THE GOVERNMENT, AND YOU CANNOT CRITICIZE HER.

HOW DOES THAT SERVE THE PUBLIC WHEN A CRITICAL PUBLIC OFFICIAL LEAVES AND AN AGREEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED THAT PRECLUDES US FROM KNOWING ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE OF VALUE TO US ABOUT HER TENURE?

>> IT IS NON-DISPARAGEMENT.

>> DISPARAGEMENT.

I’M SORRY.

>> IT IS DIFFERENT.

NOT ONLY DID WE DISCLOSE THAT AGREEMENT, WE HAVE ANSWERED ALL QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

>> I MEANT THE NON-DISPARAGEMENT.

MY APOLOGIES.

>> WELL, THOSE ARE DIFFERENT.

AND IT COMES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, I AM IMPRESSED AND I AM PLEASED WITH THE LEADERSHIP TEAM THERE AND WE ARE JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD, MAKING SURE WE ARE DOING ALL WE CAN TO DELIVER PUBLIC TRANSIT IN THE STATE THAT IS SAFE AND RELIABLE AND THAT WE ARE MAKING THE INVESTMENTS WE NEED TO MAKE IN TRANSPORTATION GENERALLY ACROSS THE STATE AND WE ARE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT GREATER BOSTON.

I MENTIONED THAT FEDERAL FUNDS PROGRAM.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE CHASED AND GOT WAS $100 MILLION FOR IMPORTANT RAIL INVESTMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO HELP ENABLE EAST-WEST RAIL.

THESE ARE THE THINGS WE NEED TO BE DOING.

INVESTMENTS IN OUR REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY SO PEOPLE IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND THE CAPE ARE ABLE TO GET ABOUT MORE EASILY TO THE STORE, TO DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS AND THE LIKE.

SO THIS HAS BEEN A BIG FOCUS.

LOOK, WE INTRODUCED WATER TRANSIT FOR THE FIRST TIME, RIGHT, AND MORE INVESTMENTS NEED TO BE MADE THERE SO I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW ENERGY, THE NEW INNOVATION AT OUR DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

IT IS WHAT THE PUBLIC DESERVES AND IT IS WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET.

LIZ: YOU CAN WATCH THAT FULL INTERVIEW OVER ON OUR YOUTUBE PAGE.

YOUTUBE.COM/GBHNEWS.

HEAVY RAIN IS HITTING MASSACHUSETTS.

METEOROLOGIST’S ARE WARNING OF FLOODING ACROSS THE STATE.

DAVE JOINS ME NOW ON WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FROM THIS STORM AND THE REST OF THE SEASON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DIVING IN ON THIS.

WHAT IS AHEAD FOR MASSACHUSETTS?

THERE IS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT FLOODING.

DAVE: AND THERE IS SOME PART OF THE PROBLEM IS OVER THE LAST 30 DAYS, RAINFALL AMOUNTS HAVE RUN ABOUT 150 TWO TO HUNT A 50% ABOVE NORMAL ACROSS EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS, CONNECTICUT, RHODE ISLAND, AND THEN DOWN TO NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY, EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS, WESTERN VERMONT, IT HAS NOT BEEN QUITE THAT WET BUT GENERALLY EIGHT INCHES ABOVE NORMAL IN THE LAST 30 DAYS SO THE GROUND LEVELS ARE REALLY SATURATED SO THEY CANNOT HANDLE ANYMORE PRECIPITATION.

AND THEN WE HAD OUR FIRST SNOW OF THE SEASON.

THAT SNOW IS GOING TO MELT BECAUSE OF THE ONCOMING SOUTHERLY WINDS TONIGHT INTO TOMORROW MORNING.

WE ARE GOING TO GET HEAVY RAIN, ONE TO THREE INCHES, SOME AREAS AS MUCH AS FOUR INCHES SO THAT WILL MAKE THE SNOW MELT AND TURN INTO WATER EVEN FASTER THAN IT NORMALLY WOULD AND ALL OF THAT HAS NO PLACE TO GO BECAUSE THE GROUND CONDITIONS ARE SATURATED SO THAT IS GOING TO BE A BIG PROBLEM HERE.

THERE WILL BE STRONG WINDS UP TO 50 MILES PER HOUR ON THE COAST, ESPECIALLY THE SOUTH MASSACHUSETTS COAST, NOT SO MUCH EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS, BOSTON HARBOR, BUT FROM CAPE COD TO NEW YORK CITY, LONG ISLAND, CONNECTICUT, STRONG SOUTHWINDS TO 50 MILES PER HOUR, EVEN HIGHER THAN THAT.

FOR EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS, THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE THAT MUCH OF A PROBLEM.

A WINDY AND STORMY NIGHT BUT IT’S MOSTLY GOING TO BE THE RAIN AND THE FLOODING POTENTIAL.

LIZ: LET’S BREAK DOWN THE FLOODING PIECE OF IT.

WHAT YOU DESCRIBE FOR NEW ENGLAND, 250% ABOVE NORMAL.

YOU SAID THAT DID NOT INCLUDE MASSACHUSETTS NECESSARILY, BUT -- DAVE: WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS, 150% ABOVE NORMAL.

THE SATURATED STAFF HAS BEEN BOSTON AND DOWN INTO RHODE ISLAND AND CONNECTICUT SO THERE IS SOME DIFFERENCE DEPENDING ON THE GEOGRAPHY BUT YOU KNOW, THIS IS A BIG RAIN FOR EVERYBODY AND EVEN IN THE WESTERN AREA WHERE IT HAS NOT BEEN QUITE THAT WET, LOCALIZED FLOODING.

LIZ: WHAT IS CAUSING THIS?

WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE KNOW?

BOB: THIS IS A MASSIVE STORM THAT HAS DROPPED A BLIZZARD THROUGHOUT THE NORTHWEST.

IOWA, HEAVY SNOW.

MINNESOTA, NORTHERN ILLINOIS, CHICAGO, EASTERN NEBRASKA, KANSAS, THAT IS WHERE THEY HAVE BLIZZARD WARNINGS OUT THERE AND WINTER STORM WARNINGS, SO THAT STORM IS GOING ACROSS THE MIDWEST INTO THE GREAT LAKES AND IT IS GOING TO DRIVE WARM AIR AHEAD OF IT INTO THE EAST COAST SO THE HEAVY RAINS ARE GOING FROM GEORGIA ALL THE WAY TO MAINE.

EVERYBODY ON THE EAST COAST IS GETTING IT.

SOME AREAS IN THE MID-ATLANTIC ARE GETTING STRONG WINDS WITH THIS WHICH AGAIN, WE ARE NOT GOING TO SEE THAT MUCH IN THE BOSTON AREA BUT THE WIND IS A PROBLEM IN THE RAIN IS A PROBLEM AND THE MID-ATLANTIC IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

IF YOU GO DOWN PAST NEW YORK CITY, DOWN TOWARDS WASHINGTON AND VIRGINIA, THEY HAVE A DROUGHT THIS SUMMER SO THEY ARE NOT QUITE AS SATURATED BUT THIS RAIN -- OF COURSE, THERE IS ANOTHER STORM COMING ON FRIDAY TO SATURDAY WHICH WILL BRING ALMOST THE EXACT SAME CONDITIONS.

LIZ: MORE FLOODING AFTER THE FLOODING IS WHAT YOU ARE SAYING?

DAVE: YES, THAT IS A REAL PROBLEM.

YES.

LIZ: CAN YOU REMIND PEOPLE WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING IN THE IMMEDIATE TERM?

HOW DO THEY PREPARE FOR THIS?

DAVE: IF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED ANY FLOODING IN YOUR AREA, YOUR HOME, WHERE YOU GO TO WORK, THE DRIVING, PARKING LOTS, TRANSPORTATION AREAS, IF YOU HAVE SEEN ANY SORT OF FLOODING BECAUSE OF THE REIGNS AND THE SNOWS, THAT IS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE.

SO AREAS WHICH ARE PRONE TO FLOODING ARE GOING TO GET MORE FLOODING.

BUT NOW WE ARE REACHING A POINT WHERE AREAS WHICH NORMALLY DO NOT SEE -- DAMP GROUNDS WILL BE MORE FLOODED.

THAT MIGHT JUST BE YOUR FRONT YARD WHICH WILL BECOME A PILE OF MUD FOR THE NEXT WEEK OR SO BUT SOME AREAS, IF YOU HAVE LEAVES IN YOUR GUTTERS, YOU HAVE TO CHECK THEM BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T AND NORMALLY, OVER TIME, BELIEVES KIND OF BREAK DOWN DISSIPATES AND IT’S NOT A PROBLEM BUT WITH THIS AMOUNT OF RAM, YOU HAVE TO KEEP ALL THE GUTTERS COME ALL THE AREAS AROUND YOUR DRAINS COMPLETELY CLEAR IN ORDER TO GET RID OF THE WATER BECAUSE ANY BUILDUP AT ALL, THE GROUND CANNOT HANDLE IT AND IF YOUR BASEMENTS FLOODED, THAT WILL BE A PROBLEM, OK, AND WITH A SECOND EVENT COMING UP FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY, THAT IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE SO YOU HAVE GOT SEVERAL DAYS TO WATCH OUT FOR, NOT JUST THIS EVENT INTO TOMORROW MORNING.

LIZ: THOSE ARE ALL GOOD REMINDERS.

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

IS THIS ABOUT EL NIÑO?

IS THIS CLIMATE CHANGE?

IS IT BOTH?

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?

DAVE: THIS IS PARTIALLY EL NIÑO TO A LARGE DEGREE.

THE LAST THREE WINTERS -- THE LAST WINTER, WE HAD VERY LITTLE SNOW IN BOSTON AND NEW ENGLAND.

THERE WAS NO SNOW IN NEW YORK AND NEW YORK CITY HAS GONE 700 DAYS WITHOUT AN INCH OF SNOW.

THAT IS PRETTY AMAZING, OVER TWO YEARS.

THAT WAS ALSO DOWN INTO PHILLY AND OHIO AND INDIANA AND KENTUCKY.

EVEN -- YOU KNOW, YOU HAD TO GO INTO THE DAKOTAS AND THE ROCKIES.

LAST YEAR, THEY HAD HUGE SNOWS IN THE SIERRAS.

WE HAD PICTURES OF THAT IN THE CASCADES, CALIFORNIA, THE ROCKIES.

THEY HAD THAT TWO YEARS IN A ROW.

LA NIÑA FAVORS THE WESTERN UNITED STATES AND DRY AND MILD FOR THE EASTERN U.S.

SO THAT WAS THE LAST TWO YEARS AND NOW, HAVE MOVED TO EL NIÑO BUT THIS IS A VERY STRONG EL NIÑO.

IT IS DRIVING ALL THE STORMS FROM CALIFORNIA RIGHT ACROSS INTO THE MIDWEST AND THEN EVENTUALLY TO NEW ENGLAND.

LIZ: CAN YOU REMIND PEOPLE OF THIS EL NIÑO EFFECT?

CAN YOU EXPLAIN IN BASIC TERMS WHAT THIS DOES?

DAVE: EL NIÑO AND LA NIÑA REFER TO A TYPE OF OCEAN WATER TEMPERATURES ALONG THE EQUATORIAL PACIFIC OFF THE COAST OF PERU ALONG THE EQUATOR OUT TOWARDS THE PHILIPPINES.

THAT WHOLE AREA, AND WE MEASURE THAT BY LOOKING AT DIFFERENT SECTORS -- THAT REGION IS DIVIDED IN SEVERAL SECTORS.

WHEN THE WATER TEMPERATURE IS COLDER THAN NORMAL, THAT IS LA NIÑA.

WARMER THAN NORMAL, EL NIÑO.

THEY HAD DIFFERENT IMPACTS ON THE CLIMATE DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

FOR EXAMPLE, LA NIÑA FAVORS A VERY ACTIVE HURRICANE SEASON.

EL NIÑO GENERALLY SUPPRESSES HURRICANE SEASONS.

EL NIÑO’S, AS LONG AS THEY ARE NOT TOO STRONG, OFTEN BRING ABOUT STORMY INTEREST IN THE EASTERN U.S. LIZ: IS THAT WHAT WE ARE SEEING HERE?

DAVE: YES.

WE GOT OFF TO A MILD START AND THAT IS TYPICAL.

WHEN YOU HAVE AN EL NIÑO WINTER, DECEMBER IS ALMOST ALWAYS MILD IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES BUT THAT CHANGES IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH.

THAT TURNS TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

LIZ: WHAT PIECE OF THIS IS CLIMATE CHANGE?

DAVE: THE ATMOSPHERE IS WARMER.

YOU CAN SEE THE TEMPERATURES.

NORMAL OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES DURING THE SUMMER, THE WINTER, THE MEAN TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO GO UP AT A VERY STEADY PACE.

AND IT IS OBVIOUSLY OPERATING WITH IT.

2023 WAS THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD.

PART OF THAT WAS BECAUSE WE HAD EL NIÑO -- LA NIÑA AND EL NIÑO.

IF WE WERE TO TAKE OUT EL NIÑO, 2023 PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD.

IF WE TOOK OUT THE CLIMATE CHANGE THAT HAD EL NIÑO, IT PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD THAT BOTH THINGS TOGETHER, YOU GET THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD.

LIZ: RIGHT.

AND SO, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ALSO ABOUT THE ASTRONOMICAL TIDE AT THIS POINT FOR MASSACHUSETTS?

I THINK THAT WE ARE ALSO HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF -- IN TERMS OF FLOODING, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE BAD TIMING AS WELL IN THIS STATE.

DAVE: WE REACHED THE FULL TIDE OF CYCLE ON WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY.

WE ARE NOT QUITE AT THE FULL CYCLE RIGHT NOW.

BUT THIS STORM ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, THAT IS GOING TO BE A FULL MOON CYCLE SO THAT STORM IS PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE HARDER TIDES THAN THIS ONE SO THAT IS SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND.

THAT IS GOING TO AFFECT MOSTLY THE SOUTH SHORE OF NEW ENGLAND BECAUSE YOU ARE GETTING THOSE STRONG SOUTHWINDS DRIVING THE WATER UP INTO LONG ISLAND AND CONNECTICUT AND SOUTHERN MASSACHUSETTS.

TO IMPACT BOSTON AND BOSTON HARBOR AND SOUTHEAST NEW HAMPSHIRE, YOU WANT TO GET MORE OF AN EASTERLY WIND AND BOTH THIS STORM AND THE ONE ON FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY WILL NOT GIVE US EAST WINDS.

THOSE WILL GIVE US SOUTHWINDS.

LIZ: WE HAVE ONE THING THAT MAY BE GOING FOR US, ONE LITTLE NOTE.

DO YOU THINK THAT WE GENERALLY CERTAINLY IN MASSACHUSETTS HAVE TO JUST GET USED TO MORE FLOODING?

THERE ARE PARTS OF THE WORLD WHICH I COULD NAME, WHETHER IT IS INDIA, BANGKOK, WHEREVER YOU GO, THEY ARE USED TO THIS.

IT IS A CONSTANT PHENOMENON.

THEY WILL JUST WALK THROUGH THE FLOODING.

FOR US, IT STILL SEEMS LIKE A SPECIAL MAJOR EVENT.

DO YOU THINK THAT THIS IS JUST A FEATURE THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET USED TO EVERY YEAR?

DAVE: YES, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THE CLIMATE CHANGE DOES.

I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARGUE AGAINST CHANGING CLIMATE BUT I JUST TELL PEOPLE THAT IT DOESN’T MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHAT YOU WANT TO ATTRIBUTE IT TO.

AT THIS POINT, IT IS A FACT AND YOU CAN SEE THE CHANGES HAPPENING SO IT IS A FACT.

WE CAN ARGUE ABOUT WHAT THE CAUSES ARE AND HOW MUCH IT IS WERE IS NOT BEING CAUSED BY HUMANS OR MAN-MADE.

IF YOU HAVE A HOUSE ON THE BEACH AND IT GETS DESTROYED BY A HURRICANE, DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHY THE HURRICANE WAS STRONGER THAN USUAL?

NO, IT DOESN’T.

IF YOUR HOUSE IS BEING FLOODED, DOESN’T MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHAT IS CAUSING THE EXTRA MOISTURE IN THE ATMOSPHERE?

IT DOESN’T.

LIZ: WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

DAVID OF -- YOU ACTUALLY CONSULT FOR BUSINESSES WORRIED ABOUT THE WEATHER AND THERE MUST BE A LOT OF THEM OUT THERE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

DAVE: ANY.

LIZ: THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

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