Transportation News

BOSTON—A new report released today by the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group, "Giving a Hoot: Ranking Nighttime Service in Major Metro Areas," found that among major transit systems, Boston's nighttime service ranks worst in the country. Budget cuts and systematic under-funding of public transportation have put the Night Owl, the MBTA's partial weekend nighttime service, on the chopping block this spring.

"Boston has the second largest public transit infrastructure and serves the third largest population of any comparable transit system in the country," said Hathaway Fiocchi, MASSPIRG Transportation Associate, "The MBTA ought to be setting the standard for public transportation systems across the country; instead the MBTA is cutting services. By canceling Night Owl service, the MBTA's nighttime service will be ranked dead last compared to other major transportation systems across the country."

MASSPIRG's report, "Giving a Hoot: Ranking Nighttime Service in Major Metro Areas," ," found that:

- Boston, MA and Atlanta, GA are the only two of eleven major cities with heavy rail systems that serve nearly 1 million people that do not provide some form of all night public transportation every night of the week.

- MBTA nighttime weekday service closes at 1am while Atlanta's remains open until 1:30am, ranking Boston last among comparable major cities in the US for weekday service.

- Boston, MA and Atlanta, GA are the only two major cities with heavy rail systems that serve nearly 1 million people that do not provide all night service on Friday and Saturday nights-traditionally late nights out for city dwellers and workers.

- If the Night Owl service is cut and Boston's public transportation stops running at 1am on Friday and Saturday nights, Boston's nighttime service will rank last among comparable cities in the US for nighttime weekend service.

"Public transportation serves the community, its businesses, residents, and industries by providing members of the society with accessible, affordable, and efficient modes of travel," added Fiocchi. "Investing in public transportation and expanding service ought to be a top priority of the MBTA, the state of Massachusetts, the city of Boston and surrounding communities. Unfortunately, divestment, rather than investment, is the story of the times. In terms of developing an urban infrastructure and supporting a growing city, eliminating the Night Owl is a step in the wrong direction."