Did the MBTA’s late-night service experiment really work? (Boston: fit in, real estate)

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by Whatsnext75

I've heard Uber is pricey? A few People I work it use it regularly and wish they'd never discovered it because while it's convenient and easy it is expensive. They feel they should walk or take the bus but thanks to uber they don't.

Cheaper than a cab in my experience. And easier as there is no flagging and often little wait.

It can become too easy to use, but no, it isn't pricey, IMO.

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Cheaper than a cab in my experience. And easier as there is no flagging and often little wait.

It can become too easy to use, but no, it isn't pricey, IMO.

It depends on when you hail an Uber. They use a congestion pricing model.

[Cantabridgienne]

Late night T service has been really helpful for many in the restaurant/bar industry and many others who work in non 9-5 industries. It's not just a drunk shuttle.

[bohemka]

It's good for late-night workers, keeping cars off the roads, getting people in outlying areas into the city to work/play, and I see it as a necessary service. It was never designed to be profitable. You could also take the MBTA's operating hours during midday (between commuting times) and say that chunk of time isn't profitable. This isn't just a dollars and cents evaluation.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by Dm84

It depends on when you hail an Uber. They use a congestion pricing model.

Being a user, I didn't realize that

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Being a user, I didn't realize that

I'm glad Uber is always inexpensive to you. Others would disagree.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by Dm84

I'm glad Uber is always inexpensive to you. Others would disagree.

I didn't say that either. But whatever.

[Urban Peasant]

Originally Posted by bohemka

It's good for late-night workers, keeping cars off the roads, getting people in outlying areas into the city to work/play, and I see it as a necessary service. It was never designed to be profitable. You could also take the MBTA's operating hours during midday (between commuting times) and say that chunk of time isn't profitable. This isn't just a dollars and cents evaluation.

Public transportation has long been unprofitable. That is how former railroad companies such as the Old Colony, the New Haven, and the Boston and Maine as well as former streetcar companies like the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway (EMSR) all folded and had to be absorbed into the MBTA. It's not so much about lack of profitability as having to allocate already scarce resources for extended hours on only two nights. Don't forget that many of our trains and buses are workhorses that don't get enough overhauls and using them for extended hours might subject them to even more breakdowns. We don't have as much funding or as many resources as New York or Chicago. What the MBTA can do is set aside a small number of buses for the purpose of limited overnight service on some routes I suppose. Philadelphia, Toronto, and London offer this to an extent.

[n1ey]

Originally Posted by Urban Peasant

Public transportation has long been unprofitable. That is how former railroad companies such as the Old Colony, the New Haven, and the Boston and Maine as well as former streetcar companies like the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway (EMSR) all folded and had to be absorbed into the MBTA. It's not so much about lack of profitability as having to allocate already scarce resources for extended hours on only two nights. Don't forget that many of our trains and buses are workhorses that don't get enough overhauls and using them for extended hours might subject them to even more breakdowns. We don't have as much funding or as many resources as New York or Chicago. What the MBTA can do is set aside a small number of buses for the purpose of limited overnight service on some routes I suppose. Philadelphia, Toronto, and London offer this to an extent.

Why mention facts when you really didn't say the right stuff? How about we look at the New Haven as a very problematic entity? There had been considerable change in the management structure repeatedly due to its listing on the stock market. It had so many turn-overs in a relatively short period. Most of the modern companies created since the 1970s did not have as many shake-ups.

Perhaps it had been a problem unique to the corporation rather than a systemic set of issues involving the industry? Let's mention that the Old Colony had long faded as it had been managed by the New Haven for over 50 years. Let's also mention that the B&M suffered similar issues due to its stock being traded.

You mentioned London which has many successes. The business has been booming and tons of private companies have been involved.

Bill

[Brave Stranger]

They are running some limited bus lines & limited train runs on Friday & Saturday for a total of what....2 hours each night for a total of 4 hours a week. Hardly seems like a burden that can't be shouldered.