104 (MBTA bus)

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Bus Network

File:MBTA logo.svg MBTA logo
Company type	Public transit agency
Industry	Public transportation
Founded	1964 (1964)
Headquarters	Boston, Massachusetts , United States
Area served	Boston metropolitan area
Owner	Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Website	www.mbta.com/schedules/bus

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's bus network encompasses 151 routes throughout the Boston, Massachusetts metropolitan region, facilitating transfers with the MBTA subway, MBTA Commuter Rail, and other MBTA bus lines. Many of these routes trace their origins to former streetcar corridors or suburban transit operators such as the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway and Middlesex and Boston Street Railway. Of these, the MBTA operates 147 routes directly, while four are managed by private contractors; additionally, four suburban routes receive partial funding from the MBTA.

As of 2024, the standard local bus fare stands at $1.70 per trip, whereas the Silver Line waterfront services (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW) apply the subway fare of $2.40. Express bus routes charge $4.25 for travel on express highway segments but maintain the local fare for portions within local zones.

Service levels were curtailed amid the COVID-19 pandemic but were mostly reinstated by 2021, though some routes were permanently discontinued. Since 2018, the MBTA has been implementing an extensive redesign of its bus network, with full completion anticipated by 2028. The initial phase of this overhaul began in December 2024.

Silver Line

The Silver Line represents a six-route bus rapid transit system marketed as rapid transit service. It consists of two distinct branches: the Waterfront segment (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW), which operates through the South Boston Transitway tunnel, and the Washington Street segment (SL4, SL5), which runs along surface streets. The Waterfront routes require payment of subway fares, while Washington Street routes follow standard bus fare pricing. All Silver Line vehicles are articulated buses; those on the Waterfront lines are hybrid models equipped with extended electric range capabilities to operate within tunnels.

The SL5 route commenced in 2002 as a replacement for the former Washington Street Elevated. The Shuttle service started in 2004, followed by SL2 and the original SL3 later that year, with SL1 launching in 2005 utilizing dual-mode buses. SL4 began operations in 2009 after plans for Phase III tunnel construction were abandoned. A new SL3 route serving Chelsea was introduced in 2018.

Route	Description	MBTA link
SL1	Connects Logan Airport terminals to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
SL2	Runs between Drydock Avenue and REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
SL3	Links REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system and REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
SLW	Operates from REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
SL4	Connects REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system with South Station	Template:MBTA bus EL
SL5	Runs from REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system (Temple Place)	Template:MBTA bus EL

Crosstown

Two crosstown (CT) services provide limited-stop connections linking key subway stations and major bus transfer points. Originally launched with three routes in 1994, route CT1 was eventually merged into route 1 in 2019.

Route	Description	MBTA link
CT2	Service between REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system and REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
CT3	Connects Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL

1–121

These routes primarily deliver local transit within the metropolitan center and many trace their origins to streetcar lines operated by the Boston Elevated Railway. Arranged roughly in a clockwise sequence from the southeast to the northeast, this network has stayed mostly unchanged since the BERy period, aside from some minor consolidations and expansions during the Metropolitan Transit Authority and MBTA administrations.

Seven routes—, , , , , , and —serve the western suburbs, including Bedford, Waltham, Lexington, and Needham. These lines evolved from routes acquired from the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway in 1972 and were subsequently renumbered.

In 2004, fourteen routes—such as , , , and —were identified as key bus routes. These high-demand corridors complement the subway system by offering frequent service to densely populated urban neighborhoods. The MBTA's 2024 Bus Network Redesign is gradually eliminating the key route classification in favor of a more extensive frequent route network. Notably, routes 28 and 39 operate with 60-foot articulated buses.

Four early morning round trips (191–194) connect outlying stations to via various local routes. Primarily intended for station staff but accessible to all riders, these trips are listed as variants of local routes in schedules.

Route	Description	MBTA link
1	Harvard Square– REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
4	REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system –Marine Park	Template:MBTA bus EL
7	REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system –Otis Street & Summer Street	Template:MBTA bus EL

131–137

Routes numbered 131 through 137 serve the Melrose region and originate from former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that became part of the MBTA in 1968. The now-discontinued 136 and route 137 briefly extended service to Lowell and Lawrence under MBTA management. Route 132 was initially operated by Service Bus Lines before MBTA assumed control in 1975.

Route	Description	MBTA link
131	Melrose Highlands– REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system or REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
132	Redstone Shopping Center– REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
134	North Woburn– REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
137	Reading Depot– REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL

171

Route 171 operates as a limited-service substitute for early morning CT3 runs that were discontinued at Logan Airport in 2002. Other routes in the 170 series were short-lived services catering to industrial zones.

Route	Description	MBTA link
171	Logan Airport terminals– REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL

201–202

The belt route numbered 20, originally established by the M.T.A. in 1962 from BERy’s routes, was redesignated in 2005 into routes 201 and 202 to distinguish loop directions more clearly.

Route	Description	MBTA link
201	Fields Corner Loop via Neponset Avenue	Template:MBTA bus EL
202	Fields Corner Loop via Adams Street	Template:MBTA bus EL

210–245

Covering the Quincy region, routes numbered 210 through 245 originate from the former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that became part of the MBTA in 1968. Following the gradual launch of the Red Line's Braintree Branch during the 1970s and 1980s, these services were adjusted to primarily end at rapid transit hubs such as .

Route	Description	MBTA link
210	REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system – REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
211	REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system –Squantum	Template:MBTA bus EL
215	REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system – REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system via West Quincy	Template:MBTA bus EL
216	Houghs Neck– REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system via Germantown	Template:MBTA bus EL
217	REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system – REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
220	"Hingham Depot"– REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	" Template:MBTA bus EL"	" "
" 222	" East Weymouth – REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system "	" Template:MBTA bus EL "	" "
" 225	" Weymouth Landing – REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system "	" Template:MBTA bus EL "	" "
" 226	" Columbian Square – Braintree station "	" Template:MBTA bus EL "	" "
" 230	" Montello station – REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system "	" Template:MBTA bus EL "	" "
" 236	" South Shore Plaza – REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system "	" Template:MBTA bus EL "	" "
" 238	" Holbrook/Randolph station – REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system "	" Template:MBTA bus EL "	" "
" 240	" Avon, Massachusetts – REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system "	" Template:MBTA bus EL "	" "
" 245	" REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system – REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system "	" Template:MBTA bus EL "

350–354

Serving Burlington and Woburn, these routes trace back to the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway's Lowell–Boston corridor, which the MBTA took over in 1968. Since then, service has been shortened to terminate in Burlington.

Route	Description	MBTA link
350	North Burlington– REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
351	Bedford Woods Drive–Third Avenue	Template:MBTA bus EL
354	North Burlington–State Street, Boston	Template:MBTA bus EL

411–465

Operating within Lynn and the North Shore area, these routes include former Service Bus Lines routes (411 and 430) acquired in 1975, along with primarily Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines absorbed in 1968. Weekend short-turn services, designated with a W suffix, conclude at Wonderland station.

501–558

These express bus routes operate between Newton and downtown Boston, utilizing the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) corridor. The MBTA launched the 500 series during the 1960s to take advantage of the newly extended turnpike. The 550 series evolved from the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway lines serving Newton Corner and were expanded into downtown Boston in the 1960s before being integrated into the MBTA system in 1972; however, service was reduced back to Newton Corner in 2020.

Route	Description	MBTA link
411	Kennedy Drive or Jack Satter House– REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
424	Eastern Avenue & Essex Street– REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
426	Central Square, Lynn– REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
426W	Central Square, Lynn–Wonderland station	Template:MBTA bus EL
428	Oaklandvale–Haymarket station	Template:MBTA bus EL

Route	Route Description	MBTA Link
Template:MBTABus	Brighton Center to Federal Street & Franklin Street	Template:MBTA bus EL
Template:MBTABus	REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system to Federal Street & Franklin Street	Template:MBTA bus EL
505	Waltham Center to Federal Street & Franklin Street	Template:MBTA bus EL
553	Roberts to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
554	Waverley Square to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
556	Waltham Highlands to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
558	Riverside station to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL

Privately operated routes

The MBTA provides partial funding for suburban routes beyond its central network that connect with its services. Radial commuter lines numbered 712 through 716 were acquired from private companies—Rapid Transit Inc. operates routes 712 and 713, Nantasket Transportation runs 714, and Hudson Bus Lines manages 716.

Unnumbered local circulator routes are created by municipalities with some MBTA subsidy. Except for the Beverly Shuttle, which is operated by the Cape Ann Transportation Authority, all these services are managed by private contractors.

Route	Service Description	MBTA Link	Operator
Template:MBTABus	Point Shirley, Winthrop to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system via Revere Street	Template:MBTA bus EL	Paul Revere Transportation
Template:MBTABus	Point Shirley, Winthrop to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system via Winthrop Center	Template:MBTA bus EL
714	Pemberton Point, Hull to Station Street, Hingham	Template:MBTA bus EL	DPV Transportation
716	Cobbs Corner to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL

Additional Municipal Services

Route	Overview	Website	Service Provider

External links

• MBTA – Bus schedules and route maps