Since the culmination of the historic winter of 2015 and the addition of nice spring weather, residents, students, and visitors are flocking into the city. With the citywide rush to be in the open air comes a question about the effectiveness of public transportation.
One of the most discussed issues surrounding the MBTA is the T’s hours. The T ran a one-year trial this past year, experimenting with extended weekend hours. The MBTA ran the main T lines until around 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays instead of 12:30 a.m. like it is during the week. Keeping these hours extended for another trial year is up for discussion.
The T should absolutely continue to stay open late on Fridays and Saturdays. It is extremely helpful for those who want to enjoy Boston without having a time limit, as well as those who have a long commute home at inconvenient hours of the day. If the T returns to ending service at 12:30 on Fridays and Saturdays, commuters will feel rushed during their night to ensure that they can get to a station before the final run. If, for instance, someone wanted to catch a late night movie in the city, they can remain carefree with the additional hour or so, with no need to feel crunched for time.
The extended train hours are also pivotal for people who have to work late during the weekend rush. Sophomore Chris Silva, a host at Applebee’s located in North Quincy, supports extended T hours because it assists with his extended work hours on weekends.
“Seeing how I live in Dorchester, and I don’t live in a house right over the bridge, the T staying open late helps me not spend money on a cab. Another reason why it should stay open is so I don’t have to change my hours. Fridays and Saturdays are the two of the busiest nights for us,” Silva said.
For those who do not drive, the T remains one of the few cost-effective travel options. The T being open longer also helps discourage constant driving, which helps to limit traffic jams.
Whether you have the ability to drive or not, the T staying open late is incredibly helpful for every commuter. Quite simply, it encourages exploration without pressures of constant clock watching. If the T goes back to closing early, some will lose the chance to see late night Boston for the beautiful city that it is. Even more, those who are reliant on the T in order to be home at a reasonable hour will have to find other, more expensive means of travel.