The Green Line Extension's 🐌 speed

Also: Mass. begins bracing for government shutdown; what you missed during the second GOP debate [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  September 28, 2023 🌤️ Mostly sunny, with fog in the morning and a high near 67. Good Morning Boston, While a “[hot mess of uncertainty]( is on the radar tomorrow, here's the hot mess we know for sure about today: - Many of the MBTA's problems can be chalked up to age and neglect. So, then why is the much-touted Green Line Extension — [most of which]( is less than a year old — already bogged down by speed restrictions so severe that you can walk faster than trolleys for long stretches? It turns out even T officials aren't quite sure. - How slow is it? [The MBTA's speed restriction tracker]( shows nine different 3 mph slow zones — ranging from 200 to 1,200 feet — on the GLX's two branches. [According to TransitMatters]( they've slowed down trips between Medford/Tufts and Lechmere station in Cambridge by about five minutes in each direction. - What's the problem? [As The Boston Globe first reported,]( MBTA inspectors discovered the width between the track on much of the GLX had gotten too narrow for trains to safely go at full speed. It's an unusual development, since tracks usually get wider apart with wear and tear. The issue was first noticed — and fixed — in June, according to the Globe. But it popped up again this month, leading to the new, snails-pace slow zones. - What they're saying: MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said in an email that the GLX tracks were relatively narrow from the start, but did not require speed restrictions until recently. He added the T is still working to determine the root cause. - Go deeper: The Globe's Taylor Dolven and TransitMatters' Jarred Johnson came on Radio Boston yesterday to discuss the new GLX slow zones and internal dysfunction hampering the Ts efforts to address speed restrictions across the subway system. [Listen here](. - One step down, two to go: The Massachusetts House swiftly passed [the new tax relief bill]( yesterday, by a vote of 155-1. House Speaker Ron Mariano said the bill will "help to make Massachusetts more affordable for all residents, while also helping to make the Commonwealth more competitive with other states." Up next: The Senate, which is scheduled to vote today. If passed, it then goes to Gov. Maura Healey's desk and she'll have 10 days to make a decision. - The lone no vote in the House was state Rep. Mike Connolly, who [said in a statement]( he's "very concerned about the parts of the bill that will benefit large corporations and the super-rich in this time of ongoing housing emergency and never-ending MBTA disaster." - ICYMI: Here's [a breakdown of how much renters, parents, seniors and more will save]( from the tax relief package. - Relief for Red Line riders: The Fairmount commuter rail line [will be free to ride]( during [next month's 16-day closure]( of the Red Line's Ashmont branch and Mattapan trolley. That's in addition to free shuttle buses at the closed Red Line stations. - Heads up: The T is also working on a "tailored Riders’ Guide" with more details about alternate travel options during the disruption. - Ferry scary: The amount you pay to take your car to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket could be going up. That's because the Steamship Authority is proposing fare increases for car ferry service to offset new maintenance and insurance costs. - Under [the proposal]( trips to Nantucket would go up anywhere from $15 to $25 in the summer, while trips to the Vineyard would jump by $10. - Good news for walk-ons: Officials aren't proposing any rate increases for passenger tickets. - Summer 2026 will be a busy time for the Boston area: We'll have [the World Cup]( the [return of women's profession soccer]( and now... the tall ships. Sail Boston [announced yesterday that the tall ships will gather in Boston from July 11 to July 16, 2026]( capping off a celebration of the nation's 250th birthday. It will be the ships' first visit to Boston [since 2017]( and organizers are preparing for up to 5 million visitors. P.S.— Don't be alarmed if your phone goes off next week. FEMA is [conducting a nationwide test of its alert system]( around 2:20 p.m. on Tuesday. (Just don't get it confused with the reminder you've surely set for [the beginning of Fat Bear week]( Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [8 moments that stood out from the second GOP 2024 presidential debate]( The Republican Party held its second debate of the 2024 campaign on Wednesday night in California. Here, some of the night's more memorable moments. [Read more.]( [8 moments that stood out from the second GOP 2024 presidential debate]( The Republican Party held its second debate of the 2024 campaign on Wednesday night in California. Here, some of the night's more memorable moments. [Read more.]( [A government shutdown would hit hard in Mass., from federal workers' pay to food assistance]( Gov. Maura Healey said Massachusetts will do "everything we can" to keep food aid benefits flowing even if Congress fails this week to stave off a federal government shutdown. [Read more.]( [A government shutdown would hit hard in Mass., from federal workers' pay to food assistance]( Gov. Maura Healey said Massachusetts will do "everything we can" to keep food aid benefits flowing even if Congress fails this week to stave off a federal government shutdown. [Read more.]( [Lakeville man arrested, accused of stabbing 5 Taunton police officers after chase]( Five police officers were reportedly stabbed by a man who fled a traffic stop, eventually crashing into a house and confronting the officers before he was arrested, authorities said. [Read more.]( [Lakeville man arrested, accused of stabbing 5 Taunton police officers after chase]( Five police officers were reportedly stabbed by a man who fled a traffic stop, eventually crashing into a house and confronting the officers before he was arrested, authorities said. [Read more.]( [House Republicans will soon begin the first impeachment inquiry hearing into Biden]( House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer said the hearing will examine the value of an impeachment inquiry and evidence against President Biden. [Read more.]( [House Republicans will soon begin the first impeachment inquiry hearing into Biden]( House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer said the hearing will examine the value of an impeachment inquiry and evidence against President Biden. [Read more.]( [New program introduces asylum seeker students to the Maine outdoors]( A program in Maine called #WeOutside is giving young asylum seekers a change to experience nature. Kids say it's a welcome break from day-to-day life at a crowded emergency homeless shelter. [Read more.]( [New program introduces asylum seeker students to the Maine outdoors]( A program in Maine called #WeOutside is giving young asylum seekers a change to experience nature. Kids say it's a welcome break from day-to-day life at a crowded emergency homeless shelter. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Get in the autumnal mood this weekend with our arts and culture team's list of local event recs. [The rundown]( includes an arts festival in Chinatown, a talk with Ira Glass and Jad Abumrad at the Emerson Colonial Theatre and Dogtoberfest (!) at Harpoon. Need we say more? - And our favorite local entry to NPR's Tiny Desk Contest is... Boston duo Axel & Lolo. WBUR's Amelia Mason writes [their song “You’d Like Me More" will captivate you from the opening verse](. - Good boy: Connecticut's cherished school therapy dog, Gizmo, is retiring after 12 years. Here's why, despite his small stature, "Giz" [leaves very big paws for his siblings and pals to fill](. - A recent high school prank reminded local writer Oona Metz about the emotional complexity of both holding onto our children and letting them go. "There is an honor in being the victim of this particular prank," Metz [writes in this Cognoscenti commentary](.  What We're Reading 📚 - ‘The Untouchables’: How Columbia and N.Y.U. Benefit From Huge Tax Breaks ([The New York Times]( - What is apizza? And how is it different from regular pizza? ([Boston.com]( - There are no words ([The Boston Globe](  🔎 Field Guide [Why we're so weird about alcohol in Massachusetts (Hint: It's not really the Puritans' fault)]( The Puritans established these laws to make sure you went to church, but these days limitations on Sunday activities have to do with workers’ rights to rest. [Read more.]( [Why we're so weird about alcohol in Massachusetts (Hint: It's not really the Puritans' fault)]( The Puritans established these laws to make sure you went to church, but these days limitations on Sunday activities have to do with workers’ rights to rest. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common [digs into the latest pipeline expansion project in Massachusetts and the debate over whether the extra gas is needed](. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: ["Definitely not a Storrowing, but equally dumb."]( 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 🔎 Explore [WBUR's Field Guide]( stories, events and more. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📧 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.]( Support the news   Want to change how you receive these emails? Stop getting this newsletter by [updating your preferences.](  I don't want to hear from WBUR anymore. 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