MBTA set to kick off late-night weekend service

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA) pilot program for late-night weekend service will debut March 28, Gov. Deval Patrick and agency officials announced yesterday.

Service will run 90 minutes longer on all subway and key bus routes on Friday and Saturday nights, an effort that will help Boston compete with other big cities that offer late-night public transportation, said Deval in a press release.

“World class cities offer late night public transit, to support the workforce and a vibrant nightlife, and Boston is a world class city,” he said.

All new trips will be scheduled and will appear on Google, phone apps and MBTA's website. The last Red, Orange, Blue and Green line trains will depart downtown stations at  2:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, and 1 a.m. on Sunday through Thursday nights. Extended late-night service will run every 15 to 20 minutes in most cases, with more frequent service in the core of the system.