The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) bus division manages a network of 151 routes throughout the Boston metropolitan region, providing connections to the MBTA subway, Commuter Rail, and other bus lines. The majority of these routes trace their origins to former streetcar corridors or suburban operators such as the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway. Of the total routes, the MBTA directly oversees 147, while four are operated under contract by private firms; additionally, four suburban routes receive partial funding from the MBTA.
As of 2024, the standard local bus fare is $1.70 for a one-way trip. The Silver Line’s waterfront services (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW) apply the regular subway fare of $2.40. Express bus services implement a two-tier fare system: $1.70 for the local segment and $4.25 for the express highway portion.
Although service cuts implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic were mostly restored by 2021, certain routes remain inactive. Since 2018, the MBTA has been developing an extensive bus network redesign scheduled for completion by 2028, with initial modifications commencing in December 2024.
Silver Line
The Silver Line consists of six bus rapid transit routes branded as rapid transit services. It is split into two segments: the Waterfront service (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW), which operates through the South Boston Transitway tunnel, and the Washington Street service (SL4, SL5), which runs on surface streets. The Waterfront routes charge fares equivalent to subway rides and utilize articulated 60-foot hybrid buses capable of electric propulsion within tunnels; in contrast, Washington Street routes maintain standard bus fares.
SL5 replaced the Washington Street Elevated line in 2002; the Shuttle route began operations in 2004 alongside SL2 and the original SL3. SL1 was introduced in 2005 with dual-mode buses. In 2009, SL4 was launched as a substitute for a canceled tunnel project. A new SL3 route connecting Chelsea opened in 2018.
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The two crosstown (CT) routes offer limited-stop connections between key subway stations and major bus transfer hubs. Initially launched in 1994 with three routes, one of these—CT1—was merged into route 1 in 2019.
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This group encompasses most local transit services within Boston’s core metropolitan area; many originated from Boston Elevated Railway streetcar lines. The numbering system was initially arranged clockwise from southeast to northeast and has largely stayed consistent since the BERy era despite some consolidations and additions during both M.T.A. and MBTA administrations.
Seven routes—namely , , , , , , and —serve western suburban communities including Bedford, Waltham, Lexington, and Needham. These routes evolved from services acquired from the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway in 1972 and were assigned numbers that had previously been discontinued.
In 2004, fourteen routes—including , , , , , , , , , , , , , and —were identified as key bus routes due to their high ridership levels. These corridors complement the subway network by offering frequent service through Boston’s densest neighborhoods. Starting in 2024, MBTA is phasing out the key route designation in favor of an expanded frequent route network. Routes 28 and 39 operate with 60-foot articulated vehicles.
A set of four early morning round trips (routes 191–194) run between outlying stations and over sections of several local lines. Although primarily designed to serve station agents, these trips are available to all passengers and appear as variations of local routes in schedules.
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Routes numbered 131 through 137 primarily serve the Melrose region and trace their origins to former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that were incorporated into the MBTA network in 1968. Among these, routes 136 and 137, now discontinued, previously extended service to Lowell and Lawrence while under MBTA operation. Additionally, route 132 joined the MBTA system in 1975 after being managed by Service Bus Lines.
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Route 171 provides limited early morning service that replaced the CT3 route's reduction from Logan Airport in 2002. Earlier iterations of route 170 mainly catered to industrial districts but were short-lived.
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The original 20 belt route was established by the M.T.A. in 1962, evolving from BERY's routes 20 and 21. In 2005, this loop was divided into two separate routes, 201 and 202, to differentiate the directions of travel.
Operating within the Quincy vicinity, routes numbered from 210 to 245 originated from Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that were absorbed by the MBTA in 1968. With the gradual introduction of the Red Line’s Braintree Branch in the 1970s and 1980s, these routes were adjusted to terminate predominantly at rapid transit stations such as
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From a page move: This is a redirect from a page that has been moved (renamed). This page was kept as a redirect to avoid breaking links, both internal and external, that may have been made to the old page name.
When appropriate, protection levels are automatically sensed, described and categorized.
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When appropriate, protection levels are automatically sensed, described and categorized.
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From a page move: This is a redirect from a page that has been moved (renamed). This page was kept as a redirect to avoid breaking links, both internal and external, that may have been made to the old page name.
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From a page move: This is a redirect from a page that has been moved (renamed). This page was kept as a redirect to avoid breaking links, both internal and external, that may have been made to the old page name.
When appropriate, protection levels are automatically sensed, described and categorized.
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These services operate in the Burlington and Woburn regions, tracing their origins to the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway's Lowell–Boston corridor, which the MBTA took over in 1968 before later shortening the route to terminate at Burlington.
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Covering Lynn and the North Shore area, these routes comprise former Service Bus Lines (411, 430) acquired in 1975 and mainly consist of former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines from 1968. Weekend short-turn routes (designated with a W) conclude at Wonderland station for two Haymarket-bound routes.
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These express services link Newton, Massachusetts with downtown Boston utilizing the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). Introduced in the 1960s, the 500 series capitalized on the newly extended turnpike. The 550 series evolved from Middlesex and Boston Street Railway lines reaching Newton Corner station, later extended downtown during the 1960s and incorporated into MBTA operations in 1972; these were shortened back to Newton Corner in 2020.
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The MBTA provides partial subsidies for suburban bus services beyond its main transit network, which connect to MBTA lines. Routes numbered 712 through 716 are commuter routes radiating outward, originally operated by private companies—Rapid Transit Inc. managed routes 712 and 713, Nantasket Transportation handled 714, and Hudson Bus Lines operated 716.
Local circulator services without route numbers are created by municipalities with some financial support from the MBTA. Except for the Beverly Shuttle, managed by the Cape Ann Transportation Authority, these services are privately run under contract agreements.
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When appropriate, protection levels are automatically sensed, described and categorized.
|-
BED
Bedford Local Transit
Operated by Town of Bedford
|-
BEV
Beverly Shuttle
Managed by CATA
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LEX
Lexington Lexpress (four routes)
Town of Lexington operation
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MIS
Mission Hill LINK
Run by Volunteers
|}
