Bus network operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in Boston, Massachusetts
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority bus division| Company type | Public transit agency division |
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| Industry | Public transportation |
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| Headquarters | Boston , United States |
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Area served | Boston metropolitan region, Massachusetts |
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| Products | Bus services, including Silver Line BRT and express buses |
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| Owner | Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) |
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| Website | www.mbta.com/bus |
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The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) bus division manages a network of 151 routes throughout the Boston metropolitan region in Massachusetts. Each route provides connections to the MBTA subway system, commuter rail lines, or other bus services operated by the MBTA. A majority of these routes have evolved from historic streetcar lines originally operated by the Boston Elevated Railway or various suburban companies such as the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway. Of these routes, 147 are operated directly by the MBTA, while four are managed by private contractors, and an additional four suburban routes receive partial funding from the MBTA.
As of 2024, the standard fare for local bus rides is $1.70 per trip. The Silver Line routes serving the waterfront (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW) require payment of the $2.40 subway fare. Express bus services apply a dual fare system: passengers pay the local fare for travel within local segments and $4.25 for express portions on highways.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple routes were either suspended or altered; however, service levels largely returned to normal by 2021, with some routes remaining discontinued. Since 2018, the MBTA has been developing an extensive redesign of its bus network, aiming for completion around 2028. The first phase of these changes was implemented in December 2024.
Silver Line
The Silver Line constitutes a six-route bus rapid transit (BRT) system promoted as a rapid transit alternative. It operates two distinct branches: one serving the Waterfront area (routes SL1, SL2, SL3, and a rush-hour shuttle SLW) that travels through the South Boston Transitway tunnel, and another running along Washington Street (routes SL4 and SL5) on surface streets. Waterfront services require payment of the subway fare, while Washington Street routes charge the standard bus fare. All Silver Line vehicles are articulated buses measuring 60 feet in length; those operating on the Waterfront are hybrid models equipped with extended battery capacity to support electric operation through tunnels.
The SL5 route commenced operations in 2002 as a replacement for the Washington Street Elevated line. The shuttle service began in 2004, followed by the introduction of SL2 and the original SL3 also in 2004; SL1 started in 2005 featuring dual-mode buses. The SL4 route was launched in 2009 to substitute for a canceled tunnel project. A new SL3 service connecting to Chelsea was inaugurated in 2018.
Crosstown
The two crosstown (CT) routes provide limited-stop service linking significant subway and bus transfer hubs. Initially, three crosstown routes were introduced in 1994; however, CT1 was merged with route 1 in 2019.
1–121
These routes cover almost all local transit within the metropolitan center, with most having their origins as streetcar lines operated by the Boston Elevated Railway. Arranged approximately in a clockwise manner from the southeast to northeast sectors, these routes have largely remained consistent since the BERy period, undergoing expansions during both the M.T.A. and MBTA administrations.
A total of seven routes – , , , , , , and – service the western suburban areas such as Bedford, Waltham, Lexington, and Needham. These lines evolved from Middlesex and Boston Street Railway routes acquired in 1972 and subsequently renumbered.
Fourteen routes – including , , , , , , , , , , , , , and – were identified as key bus routes in 2004. These heavily utilized lines complement the subway network by delivering frequent service to Boston’s most densely populated neighborhoods. Beginning in 2024, the key bus route designation is being phased out as part of the MBTA’s Bus Network Redesign and replaced with a wider frequent route system. Routes 28 and 39 utilize 60-foot articulated buses.
There are four early morning round trips running between outlying stations and that cover segments of several local routes. These trips primarily support station agents but are accessible to all riders; internally they are numbered 191–194 but appear as variants of local routes in schedules.
131–137
Serving the Melrose vicinity, routes 131 through 137 originate from former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that became part of the MBTA in 1968. The now-defunct route 136 and route 137 briefly extended service to Lowell and Lawrence under MBTA operation. Route 132 was initially run by Service Bus Lines before MBTA assumed control in 1975.
171
Route 171 provides limited early morning service, filling in for the discontinued CT3 route that served Logan Airport until 2002. Other routes in the 170 series were brief industrial shuttle services.
201–202
The 20 belt line, initially established by the M.T.A. in 1962 using BERy’s 20 and 21 stubs, was renamed in 2005 as routes 201 and 202 to better indicate the loop directions.
210–245
Routes numbered from 210 to 245 serve the Quincy vicinity, tracing their origins to the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that were integrated into the MBTA in 1968. After the Red Line Braintree Branch opened in stages during the 1970s and 1980s, these routes were modified to end at rapid transit stations, mainly at .
350–354
Serving the Burlington and Woburn regions, these routes descend from the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway’s Lowell to Boston line. The MBTA took over this route in 1968 and soon truncated it to terminate at Burlington.
411–465
Serving Lynn and the North Shore region, these lines encompass routes formerly operated by Service Bus Lines (411 and 430, acquired in 1975) as well as primarily Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway routes obtained in 1968. Two routes heading toward Haymarket provide weekend short-turn options that terminate at Wonderland station, designated with a W suffix.
501–558
These express services link Newton with downtown Boston via the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). Established during the 1960s following the extension of the turnpike, the 500 series includes routes originally run by the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway before MBTA acquisition in 1972. In 2020, the 550 series routes were shortened to terminate at Newton Corner.
| Route
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Description
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MBTA link
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| 501
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Brighton Center to Federal Street & Franklin Street in Boston's Financial District
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Template:MBTA bus EL
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| 504
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Watertown Yard to Federal Street & Franklin Street (Financial District)
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Template:MBTA bus EL
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| 505
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Waltham Center (Waltham station) to Federal Street & Franklin Street (Financial District)
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Template:MBTA bus EL
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| 553
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Roberts (Brandeis/Roberts station) to Newton Corner
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Privately operated routes
The MBTA provides partial funding for suburban routes beyond its primary service zone that connect to the MBTA transit network. Radial commuter lines numbered 712 through 716 were originally private services acquired by the MBTA: Rapid Transit Inc. operated routes 712 and 713, Nantasket Transportation ran route 714, and Hudson Bus Lines managed route 716.
Local circulator routes, which appear on MBTA maps without route numbers, are initiated by municipalities with some financial support from the MBTA and are run by private contractors—except for the Beverly Shuttle, which is overseen by the Cape Ann Transportation Authority.
