MBTA Removes All Utility Boxes After Woman Injured At Station

CAMBRIDGE, MA — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority decided to remove all utility boxes from its stations after a woman was injured May 1 by a utility box that fell from a column on the Red Line inbound platform, according to the MBTA.

The agency said the accident occurred when a utility box became dislodged and slid down a column, causing a supporting bracket to hit the woman. According to the Cambridge Fire Department, the woman suffered only minor injuries.

"Our initial investigation found that the utility box's support straps corroded, causing it to drop," the MBTA said in a tweet May 4. The agency added that after the accident, they inspected all Red Line stations with similar mounted boxes and opted to remove the remaining 13 boxes at the Harvard, Porter, and Davis stations "to reduce potential hazards."

The original 14 boxes were installed in 2011 as part of a pilot program funded by the Department of Homeland Security to hold sensors for detecting and identifying biological agents, according to the MBTA, which added that "since the pilot has ended, the boxes are no longer needed."

"Along with box removal, we're designing plans to address leaks in the ceiling above these structures to reduce the likelihood of similar corrosion issues," the MBTA said in a tweet May 4. "These efforts are part of our larger commitment to improving the maintenance and care of our stations and infrastructure."