Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Bus Network| Company type | Public transit agency |
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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 local, express, crosstown, and Silver Line bus rapid transit |
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| Owner | Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) |
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| Website | www.mbta.com/schedules/bus |
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The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority bus network manages 151 routes throughout the Boston, Massachusetts metropolitan region, connecting seamlessly with MBTA subway lines, MBTA Commuter Rail, and other bus operations. The majority of these routes have their origins in former streetcar corridors or suburban transit providers such as the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway. Of these, the MBTA directly oversees 147 routes, while four are operated by private contractors and an additional four suburban routes receive partial funding from the MBTA.
As of 2024, local bus fares are set at $1.70 per one-way trip, whereas the Silver Line waterfront services (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW) charge the standard subway fare of $2.40. Express bus services apply a dual fare system: local segments cost the regular fare, while the express highway portions require a $4.25 charge.
Bus service experienced interruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic but had largely returned to pre-pandemic levels by 2021, though some routes continue to be suspended. Since 2018, the MBTA has been working on an extensive redesign of its bus network, targeting full implementation by 2028. The first phase of this redesign was introduced in December 2024.
Silver Line
The Silver Line comprises six routes forming a bus rapid transit system promoted as rapid transit. It is divided into two main branches: the Waterfront branch (SL1, SL2, SL3, and the peak-hour SLW shuttle), which operates through the South Boston Transitway tunnel; and the Washington Street branch (SL4 and SL5), which runs along surface streets. Waterfront services charge subway fares, while Washington Street routes maintain standard bus fare rates. All Silver Line vehicles are articulated 60-foot buses; those on the Waterfront routes utilize hybrid buses equipped with extended battery capacity to enable electric operation within tunnels.
The SL5 route replaced the Washington Street Elevated line in 2002. The Shuttle service commenced in 2004, followed by SL2 and the initial SL3 later that year. SL1 began operation in 2005 using dual-mode buses. SL4 was introduced in 2009 after plans for a Phase III tunnel were abandoned. A new SL3 route extending to Chelsea started service in 2018.
Crosstown
The two crosstown (CT) lines provide limited-stop service linking key subway stations and major bus transfer hubs. Initially launched with three crosstown routes in 1994, route CT1 was merged into route 1 in 2019.
1–121
These routes cover nearly all local transit within Boston’s central metropolitan region, primarily developing from former Boston Elevated Railway streetcar lines. Arranged approximately in a clockwise sequence from the southeast to the northeast, this network has remained mostly consistent since the BERy period, despite some consolidations and additions introduced by the Metropolitan Transit Authority and subsequently the MBTA.
Seven routes—, , , , , , and —extend service to farther western suburbs such as Bedford, Waltham, Lexington, and Needham. These originated from former Middlesex and Boston Street Railway lines acquired in 1972 and were later renumbered.
In 2004, fourteen routes—, , , , , , , , , , , , , and —were identified as key bus routes. These high-frequency lines support the subway system by providing frequent connections to Boston’s most densely populated neighborhoods. As part of the 2024 Bus Network Redesign, the MBTA is gradually retiring the "key route" designation while broadening the network of frequent routes. Routes 28 and 39 utilize 60-foot articulated buses.
Four early morning trips (191–194) link outlying stations with for station agents but remain accessible to all riders, operating over segments of several local routes.
... [list continues with same format, omitted here for brevity] ...
131–137
Routes numbered 131 through 137 serve the Melrose vicinity, derived from former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines absorbed into the MBTA in 1968. The now-discontinued routes 136 and 137 once briefly extended service to Lowell and Lawrence under MBTA oversight. Route 132 was originally operated by Service Bus Lines before transitioning to MBTA control in 1975.
171
Route 171 provides limited early morning service, replacing the CT3 route that was shortened from Logan Airport in 2002. Other routes in the 170 series were short-term services catering to industrial zones.
201–202
The 20 belt route, created by the M.T.A. in 1962 from legacy BERy lines, was renumbered in 2005 as routes 201 and 202 to better distinguish directional loops around Fields Corner.
210–245
Serving the Quincy region, routes 210 through 245 trace their origins to former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that the MBTA absorbed in 1968. Following the incremental introduction of the Red Line's Braintree Branch during the 1970s and 1980s, these routes were adjusted to end at rapid transit stations, mainly .
350–354
Operating in Burlington and Woburn, these routes stem from the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway's Lowell to Boston corridor, which was incorporated into the MBTA in 1968 and subsequently truncated to Burlington.
411–465
Covering Lynn and the North Shore, these routes incorporate former Service Bus Lines routes (411 and 430) acquired in 1975, along with Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines integrated in 1968. Several routes originating from Haymarket feature weekend short-turn services that conclude at Wonderland, indicated by a W suffix.
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MBTA link
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501–558
These express bus routes provide a connection between Newton and downtown Boston, utilizing the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). Established during the 1960s to take advantage of the turnpike's expansion, the 500 series incorporates former Middlesex and Boston Street Railway lines (the 550 series), which were extended into downtown Boston at that time and later incorporated into the MBTA system in 1972. In 2020, service on these routes was truncated to terminate at Newton Corner.[1]
Privately operated routes
The MBTA provides partial subsidies for several suburban routes beyond its main service region that integrate with MBTA transit. The radial commuter lines numbered 712 through 716 were acquired from private operators—specifically, Rapid Transit Inc. for routes 712 and 713, Nantasket Transportation for route 714, and Hudson Bus Lines for route 716.[1]
Routes without assigned numbers shown on MBTA maps represent local circulator services initiated by municipalities with some MBTA funding support.[1] Except for the Beverly Shuttle, which is managed by the Cape Ann Transportation Authority, all these routes are operated by private contractors.
External links
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Cite error: Invalid
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