Trouble on the T: Boston transit braces for another winter

Heaters that were supposed to keep the electrified third rail from freezing failed; traction motors shorted out after ingesting too much snow; and outmoded snow plows simply couldn't keep up with the winter bombardment.

It seemed an endless nightmare for commuters like Daniel Dain, an attorney from Needham who prefers commuter rail but often drove to Boston out of frustration and necessity, enduring epic traffic jams.

A panel of outside experts assembled by Baker warned the T could become insolvent due to a "severe imbalance" between costs and expenses, while also citing myriad other shortcomings, including lack of customer focus and unusually high employee absentee rates.

New third-rail heaters are being installed and nearly 40,000 linear feet of the third rail itself has been replaced, said Frank DePaola, whom Baker named general manager after the resignation of transit veteran Beverly Scott.

The control board, meanwhile, has outlined a list of potential longer-term budget fixes that could include reducing the workforce through attrition and early retirement, eliminating late-night service on weekends — and raising fares.