WATERTOWN (WBZ-AM) -- Nine popular bus routes serving the Boston area--including the 70 in Watertown--now start service 20 minutes earlier in the morning.
Visit MBTA.com for a full list of changed routes
MBTA officials say the earlier start may free up passenger space on later buses.
The T's Deputy Chief Operating Officer of Strategy and Planning, Jessica Casey, told WBZ NewsRadio 1030 officials hope the plan works out.
"I know on the SL3 alone, we're approximating 9,000 riders per day," she said. "So, we're hopeful that the ridership that we see across all these new services is a big support."
Several of the routes are in Boston.
"We're really excited we have three routes that hit Dudley, Roxbury, Mattapan, Airport, and South Boston that will start service between 3 and 4 o'clock in the morning," Casey said.
These earlier routes will be tested for one year.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Doug Cope reports