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MBTA, Commuter Rail service expected to resume Tuesday – Metro US

MBTA, Commuter Rail service expected to resume Tuesday

It’s back to work Tuesday, Boston.

MBTA service, which was suspended Monday at 2 p.m. as Sandy blew into the Boston area, is expected to be up and running by commuting time Tuesday.

Gov. Deval Patrick said during a news conference Monday night at the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency bunker in Framingham that he is “cautiously optimistic” T service will resume. The T said on its website that regularly scheduled service is expected to resume at the start of service Tuesday with the exception of the Providence/Stoughton line.

As of about 8 p.m. Monday there were 385,000 homes and businesses without power and it may be a bit before it comes back on. According to NSTAR there were about 6,700 customers in Boston without power, 1,990 in Cambridge and more than 760 in Somerville.

Patrick said that it is still too dangerous for utility companies to start work as winds are still too strong even though they are starting to diminish. The buckets on the trucks that the utility crews use can only be used in lower winds.

Just before 4 p.m. Monday, a wind gust of 62 mph was recorded at Logan Airport. Hurricane force winds are sustained at 74 mph.

“In relative terms we are in a good place, but if you are a family or place without electricity it is an enormous inconvenience,” Patrick said.

Boston Public Schools will be open Tuesday, officials said.

Patrick also said that state government will be open, but a little later at about 10 a.m.

“We think people can prepare for a normal work day [Tuesday],” Patrick said.

While many schools were awaiting to see if the T would be running before they decided to open or close, Emerson College said it expects to be open Tuesday. It is likely most other colleges will also be open.

There are about 108 people in shelters across the state and Patrick said that two people were killed in car crashes. Investigators are trying to determine if those deaths were related to the storm.