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MBTA late-night service isn’t enough, readers say. Here’s why.
“Working people need 24-hour service.”
Starting this weekend, the MBTA will begin its late-night extended service, offering shift workers, club-goers, and night owls another option to get home. But Boston.com readers aren’t totally satisfied.
Last week, the MBTA announced about an hour would be tacked on to all subway lines and eight bus routes on Fridays and Saturdays, with extended service added every day of the week for five of the agency’s most frequent bus routes.
Extended service begins on Sunday, Aug. 24 for bus routes 23, 28, 57, 111, and 116. Late-night hours on all subways and on bus routes 1, 22, 39, 66, 110, SL1, SL3, and SL5 start on Friday, Aug. 29 and Saturday, Aug. 30, according to MBTA Deputy Press Secretary Lisa Battiston.
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To encourage passengers to make use of the service extension, all subway lines, bus routes, ferries, Commuter Rail lines, and the RIDE trips will be free on Fridays and Saturdays starting at 9 p.m. from Sept. 5 through Oct. 4.
Currently, most trains make their last trip around 12:30 a.m., with only a handful leaving their station later (the latest train currently leaves Ashmont station at 1:35 a.m. on weekdays and weekends).
With about one hour of extended service, passengers will be able to catch a train until around 1:30 a.m. on most lines and until around 2:30 a.m. on the Red Line departing from Ashmont.
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It’s not the MBTA’s first experiment with late-night service—it’s been attempted (and axed) a handful of times. There was the Night Owl bus program from 2001 through 2005; a late-night pilot program for trains and buses from 2014 through 2016; another late-night bus two years later in 2018; and now, a new iteration of extended service across trains, buses, and ferries in 2025.
When we asked Boston.com readers if the extra hour was “enough” – leaving the definition open to interpretation – the majority of the 58 poll respondents said it still falls short.
Many readers stressed that shift workers, who may work outside of regular business hours, need service that extends beyond the current midnight cutoff – and even beyond the MBTA’s extra hour of service.
“Working people need 24-hour service,” reader Steve from North Cambridge said.
Others said the trains should run to accommodate bars and restaurants, which are required by state law to close by 2 a.m.
“The T should run to 2:30 a.m. or 3 a.m. to accommodate more workers and club-goers,” Pamela from Cambridge said.
Below, readers share why the MBTA’s new late-night service is – and isn’t – enough.
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Responses have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
The MBTA will extend hours on all subway and bus lines by one hour on Fridays and Saturdays starting on Aug. 24. Is it enough?
Yes, it's enough
33%
No, it's not enough
67%
The MBTA will extend hours on all subway and bus lines by one hour on Fridays and Saturdays starting on Aug. 24. Is it enough?
No, it’s not enough
“This is not enough. The MBTA should extend hours for trains not just on the weekends but all the time. The last train shouldn’t be at midnight, the last train should be 1:00 a.m. for the week and for weekends the last trains should be 2:30 a.m. This way, everyone that goes drinking on the weekends or late night sports games can take the train home instead of driving home after drinking all night or being at an all night Red Sox game. A lot more people take the trains late at night than the MBTA knows about. The trains should be running later than they do now.” – Seth D., Melrose
“We have one of the best designed systems in the country because it extends out to the people. But we don’t have the hours and reliability fixed just yet.” – Billy T., Watertown
“I’m glad to hear of these extended hours – thanks, MBTA! I wish similar changes were in store for the Commuter Rail lines. Often, I find that the first run on a weekend day arrives [approximately] 30 to 60 min. later than I need to arrive somewhere outside the city. This is often enough to make some morning events not accessible via the MBTA.” – Diane G., Watertown
“Until they complete the Better Bus Project, or at least give it a timeline, all of this is moot.” – Will M., Somerville
“I keep hearing about how Boston wants to be a ‘big’ city, but the trains stop running before the bars close. How do drunk college kids, and others get home at night? Please, do not say Uber or taxi – these are prohibitively expensive and not available!” – Sue C., Jamaica Plain
Yes, it’s enough
“What is not being discussed are the safety issues the later you go into the evening. I don’t like riding most of the T past 8:00 pm. I fear more drunks, more verbal and physical assaults and no police presence to curb/stop it.” – Amanda, Stoneham
“Weekends is probably enough since Boston isn’t exactly a city known for its weekday nightlife. Possibly add Thursdays to the mix.” – Anonymous reader
“They tried late night service about 12 years ago…and it proved not profitable. It was a way under utilized service and was riddled with drunks and homeless issues. I took it myself occasionally and there would be approximately 15 people on the service. The MBTA should continue to work on maintaining improvements in weekday and commuter service.” – John W., Charlestown
Boston.com occasionally interacts with readers by conducting informal polls and surveys. These results should be read as an unscientific gauge of readers’ opinion.
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