COMPOUNDED TO MAKE THINGS WORSE, PITCH BLACK STATIONS ACROSS THE MBTA SYSTEM YESTERDAY, AS A POWER ISSUE FORCED TRAINS ON ALL LINES TO STAND STILL FOR NEARLY AN HOUR. THERE WAS A POWER SURGE OUTSIDE OF OUR SYSTEM, BUT RIGHT NEAR OUR OPERATION CENTER, IT DID AFFECT ALL OF OUR LINES. IT AFFECTED OUR SIGNALS, MBTA GENERAL MANAGER PHIL ENG, SPEAKING TODAY AT AN EVENT HOSTED BY CONGRESSMAN JAKE AUCHINCLOSS ANNOUNCING A BILL TO BRING BACK A TAX DEDUCTION FOR EMPLOYERS THAT OFFER A SUBSIDIZED COMMUTER PASS FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES. HE SAYS THE EXTERNAL SURGE YESTERDAY CAUSED EVEN LONGER BACKUPS ON THE ORANGE LINE DUE TO SIGNAL PROBLEMS. THE POWER ISSUE THAT AFFECTED OUR SIGNALS WHEN THE SIGNALS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND THE TRAIN MOVEMENT IS ALL BASED ON SIGNALS WHEN THAT MEANS IT GOES DARK, WE HAVE TO BASICALLY TAKE MANUAL CONTROL. THIS COMES ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER …