For the past few months, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has been increasing efforts to plan and strategize the minimization of a projected deficit of $242 million for next fiscal year.

Among the proposals for an overall fare increase and possible longer hours for employees, it appears the MBTA is planning to cut late-night train service in order to reduce expenses.

While MBTA leadership has not released an official statement to confirm, there are strong indicators hinting at the suspension of the night schedule.

Recently, information regarding drivers choosing their schedules was made public for the next cycle. According to union officials, drivers picking shifts for the schedule starting March 19 had no option to choose shifts later than 12:30 a.m. on weekends.

Many suspect this as a sign that the MBTA may drop the late-night service within the next month. However, MBTA spokesperson Joe Pesaturo countered these allegations and explained that the spring schedule does not include late-night shifts because they can always add more at a later time. Pesaturo also mentioned that it is more difficult to remove or change shifts later down the road. He also added that no official decision has been made.

According to MBTA’s management, cutting late-night service would save between $10 million and $14.8 million. Originally, the MBTA had hoped for more funding from the private sector, but so far has not received enough.

Weekend late-night service was introduced in March of 2014 and was originally planned to run for a few months. Service was extended due to popular request.

However, while the number of riders using late-night services was higher in the beginning, reaching around 16,000 passengers, it has maintained an average of around 13,000 riders each weekend.

Yet the oversight board has reported that these numbers might be too low for the service to be maintained. In 2015, the hours of late-night service has already dropped. Service now ends at 2:00 a.m. rather than 2:30 a.m. and has dropping several bus routes completely.

Before this late-night service, the MBTA offered another late-night bus service on weekends starting in 2001, called the “Night Owl.” This service was dropped as well after four years due to low ridership.

For now, riders will have to wait for February 29, when the MBTA’s Fiscal and Management Board will vote on proposal for cuts.
However, the MBTA is hosting several public hearings regarding the different plans until a final decision will be made. The dates and other information about the meetings can be accessed on the official MBTA website.