The board that oversees the MBTA on Monday approved a pilot program to increase early morning bus service on select routes.

The year-long pilot targets routes that have "severe" morning crowding, with an eye toward creating a more connected early morning network.

The routes that would see increased early morning service are: 16, 19, 31, 32, 65, 70, 104, 109, 117 and 455.

In total 67 bus trips would be added per week at an annual cost of $1.08 million.

Since the pilot is not a major service change, the T said an equity analysis would not be required.

The T says the earliest the pilot would start is Dec. 31, 2017.