MBTA Pilots Early Morning Bus Route

BOSTON, MA – Beginning Sunday, April 1, the MBTA will begin piloting an early morning bus service on its busiest key bus routes serving neighborhoods within the immediate Boston core traveling to downtown Boston, the Seaport, and key stops in between beginning as early as 3:20 a.m.

After a year-long ridership study and planning initiative at the T, the MBTA identified key routes where early morning demand is heaviest. The idea is to serve those who start their work day before many people have even pushed snooze once.

“These new early morning routes are here for the people who make Boston run,” said MBTA General Manager Luis Manuel Ramírez in a statement. “We know that getting downtown before the sun rises can be a challenge, and our vision is to offer more service for riders who need accessible, affordable, and reliable options in their neighborhoods.”

Governor Charlie Baker said the one year pilot program would help the MBTA figure out next steps.

“The T’s expansion into early morning bus service will provide an important opportunity for the changing needs of Massachusetts’ workforce,” said Baker in a statement. “The MBTA will be able to gather important information about changes in bus ridership and analyze that data to better inform future transportation plans around the Greater Boston area.”

The changes also include additional service on existing routes during pre-dawn hours. Some routes will extend beyond their normal end points during the early morning to provide direct service to downtown Boston and Logan Airport, allowing customers to reach those destinations even before trains start running. Early morning service is already a part of the MBTA’s bus service on several routes, but these added services represent earlier and/or extended routes on several bus lines.

Customers are encouraged to visit the MBTA’s Trip Planner to learn if early morning bus service is available within their communities beginning on April 1. Routes with added early morning service are below:

Weekdays

• · 109
• · 16
• · 117
• · 19
• · 455
• · 31
• · 32

Sundays

• · 65
• · 31
• · 70
• · 109
• · 104
• · 455
• · 109
• · 455

“The launch of early morning service demonstrates that the MBTA is acting on its top priority to put the needs of its customers first,” said Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack in a press release. “This new transit option will serve workers who must start their day earlier than most. Other commuters and city residents depend upon these essential workers and the MBTA’s ability to get them to their work places safely and on time.”

To learn more about early morning bus service in your neighborhood, visit www.mbta.com/earlyAM or connect with the T with questions or comments on Twitter @MBTA.

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Photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch