Night Owl

[Matthew]

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2001/9/10/mbta-begins-new-night-owl-late/

Fares will be comparable to the cost of riding the T and free transfers between buses can be requested upon boarding. Transfers are only valid between Night Owl buses at Government Center or Kenmore Square. The Night Owl buses will accept coins and T tokens, although drivers may accept dollar bills at their discretion and change will not be provided.

This is the only article I can find that talks about transfers on the old Night Owl system. Does anyone remember how it worked?

 

[Ron Newman]

This was back before the Charlie system, so you got a paper transfer from the bus driver (same as for regular daytime buses).

Later, the Night Owl fare was raised to more than regular daytime fare, and monthly passes were no longer accepted.

 

[Matthew]

Well I meant, in particular, location. It says that there were transfers at Government Center. But other articles state that there were buses following the train routes. Does that mean all the buses following the trains met up at Government Center for transfers, or was that just for Blue and Green?

 

[Ron Newman]

All Red Line, Green Line, Blue Line, and Orange Line buses met for timed transfers at Government Center. There were also separate Night Owl extensions for a few popular bus lines such as the #1, #57, and #77. (I don't remember the whole list anymore.)

 

[Matthew]

1, 9, 28, 57, 66, 77, and 111

 

[Shepard]

That's a lot of routes, and I can start to see why this wasn't financially viable. Would we really need much more than Harvard Ave - North Station (Green) and JFK - Davis (Red)? With timed transfers at Park Street?

 

[datadyne007]

That's a lot of routes, and I can start to see why this wasn't financially viable. Would we really need much more than Harvard Ave - North Station (Green) and JFK - Davis (Red)? With timed transfers at Park Street?

The E-Line corridor (including Copley Square) should be served as well.

 

[czsz]

FDOT sees where you are going with these routes and doesn't like it. Only serving relatively privileged university neighborhoods may = no funding for you. Plus, seriously, it's not only partying college kids who are out late; there are the late shifters, too. Having something would be better than nothing, but the politics of providing limited routes to one of these groups and not another might sink it.

BTW:

transfers between buses can be requested upon boarding...drivers may accept dollar bills at their discretion

Sounds like the drivers had a lot of autonomy!

 

[datadyne007]

FDOT sees where you are going with these routes and doesn't like it. Only serving relatively privileged university neighborhoods may = no funding for you. Plus, seriously, it's not only partying college kids who are out late; there are the late shifters, too. Having something would be better than nothing, but the politics of providing limited routes to one of these groups and not another might sink it.

Precisely. The late-shifters are in the LMA, which is served by the E-Line corridor.

 

[czsz]

I assume there are late shifters elsewhere in the city, too. And even the LMA workers don't necessarily live along the E-line corridor, or one of the other corridors, as well.

 

[Matthew]

FDOT sees where you are going with these routes and doesn't like it. Only serving relatively privileged university neighborhoods may = no funding for you. Plus, seriously, it's not only partying college kids who are out late; there are the late shifters, too. Having something would be better than nothing, but the politics of providing limited routes to one of these groups and not another might sink it.

It's definitely a big question mark. But if those coverage routes are simply being too big a drain on resources, wouldn't it make more sense to cut them than to lose the whole thing?

 

[jass]

That's a lot of routes, and I can start to see why this wasn't financially viable. Would we really need much more than Harvard Ave - North Station (Green) and JFK - Davis (Red)? With timed transfers at Park Street?

The only remaining night owl route doesnt serve either of those areas.


(hint, it departs dudley)

 

[HenryAlan]

The only remaining night owl route doesnt serve either of those areas.


(hint, it departs dudley)

It's surprising to me how many early shift airport workers live in Roxbury, and apparently nowhere else.

 

[JohnAKeith]

So, the 151 cities and towns besides Boston that are a part of the T's network would pay for the Night Owl service even though they don't get after 1am buses?

 

[Ron Newman]

A lot of them now pay for service after 8 pm even though they don't get any (for instance, Lexington)

 

[whighlander]

FDOT sees where you are going with these routes and doesn't like it. Only serving relatively privileged university neighborhoods may = no funding for you. Plus, seriously, it's not only partying college kids who are out late; there are the late shifters, too. Having something would be better than nothing, but the politics of providing limited routes to one of these groups and not another might sink it.

BTW:



Sounds like the drivers had a lot of autonomy!

Don't worry -- in less than 6 months all those FDOT folks will be advertizing there resumes with some foundations

The new DOT will be a lot more welcoming to what states want to do with a whole lot of the heavy-handed FedBureauKraptsy

Of course the filp-side -- a lot less money will flow from the Fed taxpayers to the states

 

[F-Line to Dudley]

Don't worry -- in less than 6 months all those FDOT folks will be advertizing there resumes with some foundations

The new DOT will be a lot more welcoming to what states want to do with a whole lot of the heavy-handed FedBureauKraptsy

Of course the filp-side -- a lot less money will flow from the Fed taxpayers to the states

Please...tell us how you really feel, whigh.

 

[armpitsOFmight]

As somebody who works a later second shift at a hospital, I would love Night Owl service. However, you guys do realize that most people don't work until 12:30 am, right?

 

[F-Line to Dudley]

As somebody who works a later second shift at a hospital, I would love Night Owl service. However, you guys do realize that most people don't work until 12:30 am, right?

Those two sentences...--><---

A minority % of night-shift workers in the straight heart of a major metropolitan downtown area is still a hell of a lot of workers who need to get around. Downtown never gets deserted, even after the entertainment establishments close. And it's not easier to drive in and park after dark because that's when they do the street sweeping in every commercial area (while all but the most expensive garages are closed), and that's when all the lane and ramp closures happen on 93.

This is a real hardship for thousands of people and an economic hindrance to the city. No, it's not easy to fund something like this. But that's why there needs to be a lot more brainstorming dialogue with stakeholders on how to get something viable working. That can't happen as long as there's a significant faction (*cough*Hizzoner*cough*) writing this off as the Drunk Tank Bus for rowdy college kids. That Puritanical attitude does such a pointless disservice. How does he think the considerable overnight shift on the city payroll has to get to work? Or would they just go out clubbing too if they didn't need to carpool?

 

[jass]

As somebody who works a later second shift at a hospital, I would love Night Owl service. However, you guys do realize that most people don't work until 12:30 am, right?

Do you think robots staff every bar and restaurant thats open past midnight...?

Whos more likely to need public transit.

Joe lawyer who works 9-4 or Joe Dishwasher who works 7pm-2:30am?