“One of those bus routes goes right out to Harvard Square,” Havern said.
But critics of the pilot program point out that similar pilot programs attempted in the past never got off the ground.
“There have been plans [to start a pilot program] for the past two years” said Wolf. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
The union representing the workers who staff public transportation—Carmen’s local 187—is in favor of extending the hours, according to Havern.
“The union is going to try to work with us,” said Havern. “If they’re on board, it’s obviously going to be easier.
While cost considerations are the largest reason the T is not open late at night, Havern says the 12:30 a.m. closing time seems to be fairly arbitrary.
“It was probably some puritanical opposition that happened 100 years ago,” he said.
—Staff writer Lauren R. Dorgan can be reached at dorgan@fas.harvard.edu.