The MBTA’s speed restrictions along the Green Line remained in place Saturday, just a day after the agency’s leader had expressed optimism that the measures would be lifted by the start of the weekend.
The MBTA did not say whether the speed restrictions along the Green Line would be ended in time for Sunday’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, which draws about a million people to South Boston.
The restrictions were imposed more than a week ago by the transit agency after it misplaced or failed to create documentation that verified that its tracks were safe.
Interim General Manager Jeff Gonneville had told reporters Friday afternoon that the T was “optimistic” that it would lift its 25 mile-per-hour speed restriction on the entire Green Line by Saturday morning.
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But by early Saturday, the agency had reversed course and said the restrictions would stay after some issues were discovered with the locations of speed signs while running a Green Line test train.
In a follow-up statement released around 2 p.m., the agency said the restrictions would remain in place until at least the end of service.
“The MBTA continues to prioritize safety and at this time cannot lift the Green Line line-wide speed restrictions as further evaluation and validation of specific locations are needed,” the statement said.
The agency had identified 30 speed limit signs that needed to be relocated on the Green Line, and the work to move them was underway, the statement said.
The MBTA said it “apologizes for the continued disruption to service for its riders.”
Speed restrictions of 10 to 25 miles per hour were also in place along parts of the Blue, Orange, Red, and Mattapan lines, according to the MBTA website.
The restrictions were in place “while track inspections are performed,” the agency said.
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Gonneville, the MBTA, and Governor Maura Healey’s office have not released any information on how the transit agency lost track of the safety records.
“While initial review indicates that staff vacancies contributed to the documentation issue, the Governor has directed the MBTA to conduct a thorough review of this situation and take immediate corrective actions to ensure accountability,” a Healey spokeswoman said in a statement Friday night.
Healey has asked the Legislature for $20 million to help improve recruitment and the retention of MBTA employees, she said Friday.
The agency warned that the transit system will be packed Sunday due to crowds traveling to the parade on the T, according to the statement.
Parade-goers were urged to visit the riders’ guide at mbta.com/stpatricksday to plan ahead for traveling around the city during the celebration.
Riders should plan for additional travel time Sunday, said the MBTA, which also advised people to preload their CharlieCards and CharlieTickets.
The MBTA’s Transit Navigation Crew, which the agency said is an employee-led volunteer group, will be working alongside T employees to help riders navigate the system on Sunday.
A free shuttle will provide service between South Station and South Boston, the statement said.
Taylor Dolven and Amanda Kaufman of the Globe staff contributed to this report.
John Hilliard can be reached at john.hilliard@globe.com.