Quick ridership gains, or a long-term lag? MBTA aims to position itself to react as pandemic eases By Adam Vaccaro Globe Staff,Updated March 8, 2021, 7:04 p.m. Email to a Friend Though public transit ridership is down sharply overall, the MBTA is adding service on some bus routes.Jim Davis/Globe Staff Tens of thousands of COVID-19 vaccinations are being administered each day. The Red Sox will welcome fans to opening day in a few weeks. And the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is slated to receive hundreds of millions of dollars in a third installment of federal aid that is expected to receive final approval in Congress this week.