Late-Night Subway Service is New Weapon in Fight to Attract Young Talent

To attract the talented young adults that are revitalizing America's cities, vibrant nightlife is essential. For cities wishing to cultivate their late-night scene, that means providing opportunities for partiers and employees to get home when the bars and clubs close without driving. Hence the motivation for Boston's political and business leaders to push for expanding the operating hours of the city's transit system.  

"Boston is one of the few major cities in the United States where service barely inches past midnight: transit systems in New York, Chicago, and parts of Philadelphia run 24 hours, while Washington, D.C., has weekend service until 3," observes Martine Powers. "The addition of the later service in Boston will put employers on better footing when it comes to recruiting, especially in the technology sector."

“The biggest inhibitor to growth in the tech sector is our ability to attract and maintain talent,” said Tom Hopcroft, chief executive of the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council. “There’s a big talent war going on, and New York and Silicon Valley are more appealing to young people. . . . There’s not a ton that’s holding them here, and oftentimes, it may be how fun and appealing the area is.”

“A vibrant economy demands a public transit system that caters to the residents, students and tourists it serves,” Governor Deval Patrick told The New York Times. “Extending service on weekend evenings will allow the public to enjoy the many attractions and restaurants the region has to offer and give workers a more cost-effective option for getting home late at night.”