Massachusetts Travel Ban Remains in Effect, MBTA Still Suspended

A statewide travel ban remained in effect Saturday morning, as a serious winter storm continued to drop snow on the Boston area and other parts of Massachusetts.

In a call to NECN, Gov. Deval Patrick said conditions were improving slowly but that because the storm was still ongoing the travel ban would remain in effect.

Patrick said he was still concerned about public safety and that he would reassess the situation "around midday."

The governor said he had not heard of any serious injuries because of the storm.

The statewide travel ban, an executive order that took effect at 4 p.m. Friday, affects nearly all non-emergency vehicles across the commonwealth. Some exclusions include health professionals, public works employees, utility workers and members of the media.

Anyone found violating the travel ban unnecessarily could face fines up to $500 or possibly even jail time, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Director Kurt Schwartz said at a Friday press conference.

Hear the governor's call in to NECN at necn.com.

The MBTA also remains closed. The now two-day blizzard that has crushed Boston has caused the MBTA to stay shut down through Saturday.

“Due to the impacts of a severe winter storm, MBTA service will remain suspended on all  modes Saturday, February 9, 2013,” says a post on MBTA.com.

MBTA personnel will be clearing tracks in an effort to get the subways, commuter rail trains and buses back up and running.

The MBTA does not have an estimate on when service will resume, but the priority is to get the service ready for the Monday morning commute. 

For more, see Beacon Hill Patch's storm center.