A Later Bedtime for the T

Last week Cambridge Representative Alice K. Wolf presented a bill to the Massachusetts Legislature's Joint Committee on Transportation seeking to extend T operating hours until 2:30 a.m. every night. The members of the Committee have favored a wait-and-see approach based upon an annual trial of extended bus hours on weekends to study the feasibility of late-night travel in the Boston area. While we would welcome late-night buses running to and from Harvard Square, we would encourage members of the committee to think daringly and decisively and to give Boston adequate late-night transportation both above and below ground. This pilot scheme has already been in the works for four years, and another lengthy delay would not be in anyone's best interests.

As things stand, the T is a quick, efficient and reliable way to get from Harvard to downtown Boston-unless, of course, you have the temerity to stay out later than 12:30 a.m. Boston should be proud of its Puritan heritage, but John Winthrop must not be allowed to dictate its transportation policy in the 21st century. Extending T hours will allow Boston's sizeable student population to venture more frequently into the city in the evenings, something that may help to liven up the rather placid nightlife of downtown and Back Bay.

There is also an important safety issue. Those who travel through the Boston area late at night should not be forced to take a chance on, wait for and pay up for shady private taxis. Boston prides itself on the city's improving safety record, and this would be a logical extension of its policies.

Wolf is right-the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has dithered over its pilot schemes for long enough. As soon as it is feasible, we would like to see extended hours every day for both the buses and the trains. Our feet and our wallets demand it.