Survey: Riders Want Late-Night MBTA Service
The Boston Globe reports that 85 percent of those who responded to a survey on late-night MBTA service would be willing to wait at least 10 to 19 minutes for a bus or train.
A recent survey confirms what most of the Boston area was already thinking: locals want late-night MBTA service.
The Boston Globe reported Friday that about 26,000 people responded to a survey saying they are in favor of late-night bus or train service in Boston.
Over 85 percent of respondents said they would be willing to wait 10 to 19 minutes for a late-night bus or train, and half said they’d pay double the fare, according to the Globe.
As MBTA officials scramble to close a $117 budget gap for fiscal year 2014, and legislators mull Gov. Deval Patrick’s 21st Century Transportation Plan, the T has said its not making late-night service a priority.
MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said in a Feb. 21 email until the state decides to implement Patrick’s transportation budget roll out, late-night service is out of the question.
“Given the enormous strain on the MBTA’s limited resources, the Authority cannot even consider an extension of service hours before action is taken on the 21st Century Transportation Plan,” Pesaturo said.
The Night Owl bus service, which ran buses from the end of service at 1 a.m. to 2:30 a.m., existed between 2001 and 2005, but was too costly to maintain.
When it comes to transit in Newton the last Green D Line train (inbound) currently leaves Riverside Station in Newton at 12:05 a.m. The last D Line train (outbound) leaves Government Center station at 12:47 a.m.
How much would you pay for late night MBTA service? How long would you be willing to wait? Tell us in the comments section below.
khluvr621
4:02 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
"Over 85 percent of respondents said they would be willing to wait 10 to 19 minutes for a late-night bus or train" - lol. Route 70 runs once an hour between 9 pm and 1 am, which is the last service.. I'm still happy about it because the express buses around Newton/Waltham either don't operate on the weekends/holidays or stop service at 7:30'ish. If a potential "late night service" were to run, I'd still wait an hour. An hour is better than no service until the next morning or the next week for one express bus.
peter
10:04 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
Our flight was delayed, landing at Logan after T service had ended (despite our clever planning.) $45 later, the taxi got us home, so needless to say I'd pay $5 or even $10 for late T service.