Give a Hoot: Endangered Night Owl Service Indicates Threatened Regional Transportation System
03/10/2005
Executive Summary
Greater Boston's Night Owl
service is endangered. Budget cuts and systematic under-funding of public transportation
have put the Night Owl on the chopping block this spring. This report compares
Greater Boston's nighttime public transportation service with that of other
similar transportation systems across the country and finds that, out of eleven
comparable systems, Boston is one of only two that do not offer some form of
nighttime service on weeknights. And cutting current weekend Night Owl service
would make Boston one of only two comparable cities that fail to provide nighttime
weekend service. Of the two cities, Boston, MA and Atlanta, GA, Boston's service
shuts down earlier.
The Night Owl in Boston is like an endangered species of wildlife. Our society
acts to protect endangered wildlife species because their endangerment is a
symptom and a sign of larger, systematic problems that threaten whole ecosystems.
As we try to create a vibrant culture and economy in Greater Boston for the
21st century, this metaphor is useful. Endangered Night Owl service is a symptom
and a sign of the systematic failure to adequately invest in public transportation
for the region and state, and this larger problem threatens ultimately to undermine
smart development in the region.
|
Read our news release.
 Download the full report.
|
