MBTA board votes to end late-night weekend hours by March 18

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston-area transit system is ending its experiment with late-night weekend hours.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's control board voted 4-0 on Monday to eliminate by March 18 the 12:30 a.m.-2 a.m. service on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

MBTA officials say the service cost the cash-strapped system about $14 million during the 2015 fiscal year and ridership has been declining lately. Customers took about 16,000 rides on late-night service when it first started, compared to 13,000 by December 2015.

Some riders urged the board before the vote to keep the service. Malden resident David Senatillaka says it cuts down on drunken driving.

T officials on Monday also lowered their projected operating budget deficit for the next fiscal year by 43 percent, saying the savings would go toward equipment upgrades.

Associated Press