134 (MBTA bus)

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Bus Division

File:MBTA logo.svg MBTA logo
Company type	Public transit agency division
Industry	Public transportation
Predecessor	Boston Elevated Railway, Metropolitan Transit Authority, Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway, Service Bus Lines, Middlesex and Boston Street Railway
Founded	1964 (1964)
Headquarters	Boston , United States
Area served	Boston metropolitan area
Products	Bus services including local, express, crosstown, and bus rapid transit (Silver Line)
Owner	Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)
Website	www.mbta.com/bus

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) bus division manages 151 routes within the Boston metropolitan region, integrating connections to MBTA subway lines, Commuter Rail services, and other bus networks. The majority of these routes have evolved from historic streetcar corridors or suburban transit companies such as the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway. Of the total, 147 routes are directly operated by the MBTA; four are managed under contract by private operators, and an additional four suburban routes receive partial financial support from the MBTA.

As of 2024, the standard local bus fare is set at $1.70 for a one-way trip, whereas the Silver Line’s waterfront services (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW) apply the typical subway fare of $2.40. Express bus routes feature both local and express travel segments, with a $4.25 charge specifically for the express portion of the journey.

Service levels were modified in response to the COVID-19 pandemic but were largely reinstated by 2021. Since 2018, the MBTA has been undertaking a comprehensive redesign of its bus network, with completion anticipated by 2028; initial modifications were introduced in December 2024.

Silver Line

The Silver Line represents a bus rapid transit system comprising six routes, promoted as a rapid transit alternative. It consists of two main branches: the Waterfront service (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW), which operates through the South Boston Transitway tunnel and charges fares equivalent to subway rates; and the Washington Street service (SL4, SL5), running on surface streets with standard bus fares. All Silver Line routes deploy articulated buses measuring 60 feet in length; those serving the Waterfront branch utilize hybrid buses equipped with extended battery capabilities to enable electric operation within tunnels.

The SL5 route commenced operations in 2002 as a replacement for the Washington Street Elevated line. The Shuttle began service in 2004, followed later that year by SL2 and SL3. In 2005, SL1 was introduced using dual-mode buses. The SL4 route was established in 2009 to substitute a canceled tunnel project. A new SL3 route connecting Chelsea was launched in 2018.

Route	Description	MBTA link
SL1	Logan Airport terminals– REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
SL2	Drydock Avenue– REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
SL3	REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system – REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
SLW	REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system – REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
SL4	REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system –South Station	Template:MBTA bus EL
SL5	REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system – REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system (Temple Place)	Template:MBTA bus EL

Crosstown

The two crosstown (CT) routes provide limited-stop connections linking key subway stations and major bus transfer hubs. Initially launched in 1994 with three routes, one of these—route CT1—was merged into route 1 in 2019.

Route	Description	MBTA link
CT2	REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system – REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
CT3	Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital– REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL

1–121

These routes constitute nearly all local transit service within Boston’s core metropolitan area; most trace their origins back to Boston Elevated Railway streetcar lines. Numbering generally follows a clockwise pattern from southeast to northeast neighborhoods, covering areas from South Boston through East Boston. The Boston Elevated Railway transitioned into the Metropolitan Transit Authority in 1947 before becoming the MBTA in 1964. Despite some consolidations and additions over time, this foundational network remains largely unchanged since its BERy beginnings.

Seven routes— , , , , , , and —serve western suburban communities such as Bedford, Waltham, Lexington, and Needham. These lines originated from acquisitions of Middlesex and Boston Street Railway routes in 1972 and were renumbered using previously discontinued designations.

In 2004, fourteen routes—including , , , , , , , , , , , , , and —were identified as key bus routes due to their high ridership levels. These vital corridors supplement subway service by providing frequent connections to densely populated urban districts. The MBTA’s Bus Network Redesign effort beginning in 2024 will retire the "key bus route" classification while expanding frequent service across more lines. Notably, routes 28 and 39 operate with 60-foot articulated buses.

A set of four early morning round trips link outlying stations with station via multiple local lines. Although primarily intended for station staff use, these trips are open to all passengers and are internally numbered 191–194 but appear as variants of local routes in published schedules.

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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

131–137

Routes numbered 131 through 137 primarily serve the Melrose vicinity, tracing their origins to former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that were incorporated into the MBTA system in 1968. Under MBTA management, the now-defunct routes 136 and 137 briefly extended service to Lowell and Lawrence. Route 132 began as a Service Bus Lines operation before transitioning to MBTA 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 line that replaced the early morning CT3 route reduced from Logan Airport in 2002. Historically, other routes in the 170 series served industrial zones but generally had brief durations.

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

201–202

The original 20 belt route, established by the M.T.A. in 1962 from the remnants of BERY’s routes 20 and 21, was renumbered in 2005 as routes 201 and 202 to better distinguish the directions of the loop.

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

Routes within the 210 to 245 range mainly operate throughout Quincy, originating from former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that were integrated into the MBTA in 1968. Following the gradual introduction of the Red Line’s Braintree Branch during the 1970s and 1980s, these routes were adjusted to terminate at rapid transit stations such as Quincy Center.

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/East Braintree station – REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL	-	226	Columbian Square (Weymouth) – Braintree station (MBTA)	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 Square – 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

These routes operate in the Burlington and Woburn regions and stem from the Lowell–Boston line originally run by the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway, which the MBTA acquired in 1968 before shortening the route to terminate at Burlington.

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

411–465

Serving Lynn and the North Shore area, these routes include former Service Bus Lines (411, 430) acquired in 1975 alongside Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines taken over in 1968. Two Haymarket-bound routes offer weekend versions that end at Wonderland, marked with a W suffix.

Route	Description	MBTA link
411	Malden Center station–Kennedy Drive or Jack Satter House	Template:MBTA bus EL
424	Wonderland station–Eastern Avenue & Essex Street	Template:MBTA bus EL
426	Haymarket station–Central Square, Lynn	Template:MBTA bus EL
426W	Wonderland station–Central Square, Lynn	Template:MBTA bus EL
428	Haymarket station–Oaklandvale	Template:MBTA bus EL
429	Central Square, Lynn–Northgate Shopping Center	Template:MBTA bus EL
430	Malden Center station–Saugus Center	Template:MBTA bus EL
435	Central Square, Lynn via Peabody Square–Salem Depot	Template:MBTA bus EL
436	(Liberty Tree Mall)–Central Square, Lynn via Goodwin Circle	Template:MBTA bus EL
439	(Nahant)–Wonderland station	Template:MBTA bus EL
441	(Marblehead)–Wonderland station via Massachusetts Route 1A	Template:MBTA bus EL
442	Marblehead–Wonderland station via Humphrey Street	Template:MBTA bus EL
450	Haymarket station–Salem Depot	Template:MBTA bus EL
450W	Wonderland station–Salem Depot	Template:MBTA bus EL
451	Salem Depot–North Beverly station	Template:MBTA bus EL
455	Wonderland station–Salem Depot	Template:MBTA bus EL
456	Central Square, Lynn–Salem Depot	Template:MBTA bus EL

501–558

These express services link Newton with downtown Boston by utilizing the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). The MBTA introduced the 500 series during the 1960s to capitalize on the turnpike's extension into Boston. The 550 series originated from Middlesex and Boston Street Railway lines serving Newton Corner; they were extended downtown in the 1960s and absorbed by the MBTA in 1972 but were scaled back to Newton Corner in 2020.

Route	Description	MBTA link

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Privately operated routes

The MBTA provides partial subsidies for suburban routes beyond its central service zone that connect to the MBTA transit system. The radial commuter lines numbered 712 through 716 were originally owned by private companies: Rapid Transit Inc. operates routes 712 and 713, Nantasket Transportation manages route 714, and Hudson Bus Lines runs route 716.

Routes without numerical designations serve as local circulators, created by municipalities and partially funded by the MBTA. Except for the Beverly Shuttle, which is operated by the Cape Ann Transportation Authority, these services are managed by private contractors.

Route	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, Massachusetts to Station Street, Hingham, Massachusetts	Template:MBTA bus EL	DPV Transportation
716	Cobbs Corner to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL

Route	Description	Link	Operator

Route	Description	Link	Operator

Route	Description	Link	Operator

Route	Description	Link	Operator
BED	Local Transit in Bedford, Massachusetts	Link	Town of Bedford
BEV	City Shuttle for Beverly, Massachusetts	Link	CATA
LEX	Lexpress (four routes) serving Lexington, Massachusetts	Link	Town of Lexington
MIS	LINK service in Mission Hill, Boston	Link	Volunteers

External links

• MBTA – Bus timetables and route maps