The $13 million, year-long pilot started in March 2014, extending service by 90 minutes on MBTA lines and fifteen bus routes on Friday and Saturday nights until at least 2:30 a.m. The pilot has drawn 850,000 riders since its inception
BOSTON — The future of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA) late night service may be in jeopardy as state transportation officials look for ways to deal with a massive mid-year state budget shortfall and plan for the next fiscal year's budget, according to the Dorchester Reporter.
The $13 million, year-long pilot started in March 2014, extending service by 90 minutes on MBTA lines and fifteen bus routes on Friday and Saturday nights until at least 2:30 a.m. The pilot has drawn 850,000 riders since its inception, according to the MBTA.
While ridership levels have been deemed "very significant," according to MBTA GM Beverly Scott, adding that economically, the service has not provided the "golden spike," the report said.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.