"The natural tendency is to be conservative in your estimates and then over-deliver if at all possible," he said. He noted that when transportation officials discovered weaknesses in the Bay Bridge's side barriers after a fatal tractor-trailer crash last summer, they originally estimated 10 weeks of severe lane closings but ended up wrapping up the work in about two.
For riders of light rail, relief can't come soon enough.
Lee Russell, 60, said it took him an extra 90 minutes yesterday morning to get from Timonium to his job at the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene near the Cultural Center stop. Russell said he learned about the shuttle buses when he arrived at the Timonium station, and traffic and the frequent stops stretched out his trip.
Russell, a longtime rider, will continue to use the transit system because he doesn't have a downtown parking pass, but he added that he expects delays to be reduced substantially.
"I've put up with a lot over the years, including when they were laying double tracks," he said.
Jim Dutt, 65, who commutes from Mount Washington to the Mount Royal Station, said he learned only yesterday morning that he would have to board a shuttle bus. He said he was 30 minutes late to his job at the University of Baltimore.
"I think [MTA] needs to explain a little bit more as to why this is taking place at this point and why it's taking so long," Dutt said. "Last week, they were running single cars. And now it's gotten worse."
Dutt said he will continue to ride the train but will adjust his start time.
"It's one of the hazards, I suppose, of using the light rail," he said. "But I'm not going to switch. I enjoy coming to work by rail and not having to worry about a place to park."
Autumn leaves are not a problem unique to Maryland's light rail system, said Martin Schroeder, program manager for rail at the American Public Transit Association. He noted that when the trade group held its 2006 rail conference, it put together a panel of experts to deal with that issue alone.
"It's a problem of physics," Schroeder said, adding that leaves can reduce friction on the rails to about one-sixth of normal: "It's like your car on ice."
Porcari said the problems with leaves reach their peak in late October and November but subside soon after that.
"The leaves will all be done very soon," he said. "A couple of good winds, and we'll be off to the races."
by the numbers
29
Length, in miles, of the light rail system from Hunt Valley
to Cromwell Station
15
Length, in miles,
of track currently closed
26
Number of light rail
cars usually in service
10
Number of light rail cars
in service yesterday
30,000
Usual number
of light rail riders daily
Source: Maryland Transit Administration
