Gov. Baker Puts 500 National Guard Members On Snow Duty; Still Has MBTA In His Sights

Anne Mostue’s work in radio journalism has taken her from black bear dens in the North Woods of Maine to the streets of Seoul and San Juan.

Sarah Birnbaum is WGBH Radio’s political and State House reporter. When she’s not on the campaign trail, she loves telling stories about health care and education policy, and all the issues that come through the Legislature that matter to voters.

February 10, 2015

Updated January 10, 2016

Governor Charlie Baker activated 500 members of the Nation Guard Tuesday to assist communities in eastern Massachusetts recover from the record-setting snow of the last two weeks.

50, four-person teams will deploy to help dig out hydrants and other critical pieces of infrastructure.

The remaining 300 guard members will operate heavy machinery to aid in snow removal across the hardest hit areas of the state, especially Boston’s South Shore.

Baker said the state has purchased two snow melters capable of dissolving up to 25 large truckloads of snow per hour.

Baker has also asked neighboring states for help. He said Vermont is sending a dozen pieces of heavy equipment and New York and Pennsylvania have also responded.

At the same press conference, Baker declined to back away from previous criticism of the MBTA’s recent performance during the blizzard and succession of storms.

But neither was Baker goaded into expanding his attack.

Despite Baker’s uncontestable assertion that the state is in an unprecedented situation, the governor still hasn’t called Beverly Scott, the general manager of the MBTA.

“The General Manager of the MBTA reports to the DOT board of directors, she doesn’t report to me,” the Baker said.

“I don’t have any direct authority over the MBTA at all. I have one seat on the board.”

Baker says he’s communicated with Scott through his transportation secretary, Stephanie Pollack. The T has been struggling with basic maintenance and shut down all rail service Tuesday.

Baker is scheduled to meet directly with T officials on Thursday.