Bus division of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in Boston metropolitan area
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) 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 area, Massachusetts |
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| Products | Bus transit services, including local, express, and bus rapid transit (Silver Line) |
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| Owner | Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) |
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| Website | mbta.com/bus |
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The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) bus division manages 151 routes throughout the Boston, Massachusetts metropolitan region, providing connections to the MBTA subway, MBTA Commuter Rail, and other bus services. Many of these routes have their origins in former streetcar lines or suburban transit companies such as the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway. The MBTA operates 147 of these routes directly, while four are run by private contractors and another four suburban routes receive partial MBTA funding.
As of 2024, the standard local bus fare is $1.70 per one-way trip. The Silver Line waterfront routes (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW) charge the subway fare of $2.40. Express buses apply a two-tier fare system: $1.70 for local segments and $4.25 for the express highway portion.
Service levels were impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic but had largely returned to pre-pandemic capacity by 2021; however, some routes remain inactive. Since 2018, the MBTA has been developing an extensive redesign of its bus network, aiming for full rollout by 2028, with initial modifications commencing in December 2024.
Silver Line
The Silver Line operates as a six-route bus rapid transit (BRT) network branded as rapid transit. It features two main branches: the Waterfront services (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW), which utilize the South Boston Transitway tunnel, and the Washington Street services (SL4, SL5), which run on surface streets. Waterfront routes charge fares equivalent to the subway system; Washington Street routes maintain standard bus fares. All Silver Line vehicles are articulated buses measuring 60 feet in length; Waterfront buses are hybrid models equipped with extended electric-only ranges suitable for tunnel operation.
The SL5 route replaced the former Washington Street Elevated line in 2002. The Silver Line Shuttle began operating in 2004, followed by the introduction of SL2 and SL3 later that year. SL1 commenced service in 2005 using dual-mode buses. After plans for a tunnel extension were canceled, SL4 was launched in 2009. A new SL3 service to Chelsea started operations in 2018.
Crosstown
The MBTA operates two crosstown (CT) routes that provide limited-stop service linking key subway and bus transfer hubs. Originally introduced with three crosstown lines in 1994, route CT1 was merged into route 1 in 2019.
1–121
These routes encompass almost all local transit within the metropolitan center, with many tracing their origins back to former Boston Elevated Railway streetcar corridors. Arranged approximately in a clockwise sequence from the southeast to the northeast, the system has stayed mostly consistent since the BERy period, evolving through the Metropolitan Transit Authority before becoming part of the MBTA.
A group of seven routes – , , , , , , and – provide service to western suburban communities such as Bedford, Waltham, Lexington, and Needham. These lines originated from the 1972 takeover of Middlesex and Boston Street Railway routes and were assigned numbers previously retired.
In 2004, fourteen routes – including , , , , , , , , , , , , , and – were identified as key bus corridors. These heavily utilized lines complement the subway system by connecting the most densely populated urban neighborhoods with frequent bus service. The MBTA is gradually discontinuing the "key route" label during its 2024 Bus Network Redesign initiative, while broadening frequent service coverage across additional routes. Notably, routes 28 and 39 utilize 60-foot articulated buses.
Four early morning round trips link outlying stations with through several local lines. While primarily intended for station personnel, these trips are accessible to all riders and are internally numbered 191–194; however, they appear as local route variants in published schedules.
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131–137
Serving the Melrose vicinity, routes 131 through 137 originate from former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that were absorbed into the MBTA in 1968. Routes 136 (now discontinued) and 137 once briefly extended service to Lowell and Lawrence while under MBTA operation. Route 132 began as a Service Bus Lines route before transitioning to MBTA management in 1975.
171
Route 171 operates as a limited-service replacement following the early morning CT3 line’s reduction from Logan Airport in 2002. Other routes in the 170 series were briefly active industrial service lines.
201–202
Originally formed in 1962 by the M.T.A. from previous BERy routes, the 20 belt line was divided in 2005 into routes 201 and 202 to better indicate travel direction.
210–245
Routes numbered 210 through 245 operate within the Quincy region, tracing their origins to former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines integrated into the MBTA system in 1968. Following the gradual introduction of the Red Line’s Braintree Branch during the 1970s and 1980s, these services were adjusted to conclude at rapid transit hubs, predominantly .
350–354
These routes cover areas in Burlington and Woburn, evolving from the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway's Lowell–Boston line acquired by the MBTA in 1968, later truncated to Burlington.
411–465
Serving Lynn and the North Shore area, these routes feature weekend short-turn versions (marked with a W suffix) that conclude at Wonderland. The 411 and 430 routes were incorporated into the system following the acquisition of Service Bus Lines in 1975, while several others originated from the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway takeover in 1968.
501–558
These express services link Newton, Massachusetts with Boston’s downtown area along the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). The MBTA launched the 500 series during the 1960s to take advantage of the turnpike's expansion. The 550 series stems from former Middlesex and Boston Street Railway lines serving Newton Corner station, which were extended downtown in the 1960s and integrated into the MBTA network in 1972. In 2020, these routes were shortened to terminate once again at Newton Corner.
Privately operated routes
The MBTA provides partial funding for suburban bus routes beyond its primary service zone that connect to the MBTA network. Routes 712 through 716 are radial commuter services formerly run by private companies: Rapid Transit Inc. operates routes 712 and 713, Nantasket Transportation manages route 714, and Hudson Bus Lines is responsible for route 716.
Routes without numerical designations function as local circulator services, launched by municipalities with some financial backing from the MBTA. Except for the Beverly Shuttle, which is managed by the Cape Ann Transportation Authority, all these routes are operated under private contracts.
