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Federal regulators and state leaders have said that staffing up is one of the top priorities for increasing safety and reliability at the MBTA, but growing the workforce has been and is a massive challenge for the agency.
With train service still running at diminished levels, staffing efforts in the MBTA's operations control center have plateaued since December, and the agency will continue to offer a $10,000 sign-on bonus through June to try and attract the dispatchers critical to reversing months-long service cuts.
Like other transit agencies and many employers more broadly, the MBTA has struggled to attract and retain workers amid a tight hiring market.
Service cuts enacted last June are continuing into the new year.
The MBTA is looking to hire for over 800 jobs, including bus and train operators, administrative roles, IT, engineering, safety and more.