At Kendall Station in Cambridge, Mayor Walsh and Governor Patrick will announce 10:00 a.m. Thursday that the prospective late night MBTA service pilot program, keeping bus and T operations open later, will actually be going into effect sooner than we likely all thought.
Alongside Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation Richard Davey and MBTA General Manager Beverly Scott, Mayor Walsh and Governor Patrick will make it known that the pilot program is slated to kick off on March 28 and include subway service as well as 15 select bus routes during every weekend for a year. They are expected to stay open until 3:00 a.m.
“Late-night T service is good news for Boston’s residents, workers, students, and visitors. And it’s good news for our economy,” said Mayor Walsh to BostInno. “I said last week that to be an international business hub, Boston needs to embrace our cosmopolitan culture. Having a more robust nighttime city is a big part of that growth.
The program is the product of collaboration between the city and the state. Mayor Walsh pushed hard on the campaign trail for public transit reform as well as a later bar and restaurant scene within city limits, while Governor Patrick also planted the seeds for revamped MBTA service with his transportation bill.
“Late-night service is an idea whose time has come,” MBTA General Manager Beverly Scott told BostInno. “As Greater Boston continues to grow and develop into an even more vibrant region, we are pleased to announce this pilot program that will help us address the area’s evolving transportation needs.”
The mayor recently announced the formation of a task force to investigate keeping Boston nightlife open later, saying it’ll help foster and retain young talent while catering to those burning the midnight oil. Similar to the pilot program, he hopes to keep Boston’s nightlife open until 3:00 a.m. as well.
News of the pilot program broke back in December amongst conceivable skepticism from riders who already endure the inefficiency the MBTA can sometimes provide.
Though ridership numbers may be skewed during this time, when Boston’s innumerable students depart for home for the summer, the demand for late night service will determine its success rather than ridership totals or immediate revenue.
Stay tuned to BostInno for more information regarding late night T service in Boston. We’ll be sure to keep you updated as the mayor, governor, secretary and GM make their respective remarks.
