I know what you’re thinking, Boston: It’s party time. The MBTA is kicking off its late night T and bus service pilot program Friday night and now you don’t have to worry about trying to prioritize between staying until last call and getting home safely.
Safety is, after all, the driving force behind the program. While yes, late night transportation will certainly aid Bostonians in partying down, let’s not forget those serving the innumerable beers, shots and various liquors. They’re the ones still working even after you’ve taken your drunk self home.
The fact of the matter is, those employed in the food service industry call it a night well after the last train has left the station. Because of that, getting home can be both a dangerous and costly affair.
BostInno spoke with Frank DePasquale, a local restauranteur who owns such eateries as Bricco and Mare in the North End, about how helpful the new late night service will be. And he couldn’t be more excited.
“Honestly, I think it’s the quickest response I’ve ever seen to a major problem,” he told us over the phone. “It’s the quickest response from this mayor and I’m so pleased that he nailed it.”
Some employees, he continued, usually have to wait for their coworkers after work before heading home so that they can both share a taxi and utilize the foolproof buddy system. “The cost factor is high,” he posited. “There’s really not enough taxis, especially on the weekends.”
In a neighborhood like the North End, densely packed with both residents and eateries, the service points to positive yields in a number of different aspects. DePasquale is expecting a “major impact” in the economic sense, but public safety is paramount. North End women have been subjected to multiple sexual assaults as of late, and while DePasquale wasn’t interested in commenting on that he did note that the safety of his employees will henceforth be fortified.
Earlier this month, we spoke with Massachusetts Restaurant Association President and CEO Bob Luz who essentially told us the exact same thing: The MRA is one of the MBTA’s late night service sponsors.
“For our employees, they got off after 11 p.m., 12 p.m. or 1 in the morning and oftentimes are faced with making decisions that either: A, might not be safe for them to get home; or B, have them reaching into their pocket to spend an awful lot of money on a cab,” Luz told us.
If you plan on riding the T for party purposes, be sure to keep in mind that it’s also there for your protection and the protection of others. For all the service information you need to know, check out our coverage here.
Remember, while the service will last until 3 a.m., the last departing train is scheduled to leave at 2:45 a.m.
