Bus division of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority serving the Boston metropolitan area
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 |
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| Products | Bus services, including local routes, express buses, Silver Line BRT |
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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 151 routes serving the Boston metropolitan region, each providing connections to MBTA subway lines, Commuter Rail services, or other bus routes. Of these, the MBTA directly operates 147 routes, while four are managed by private contractors. Additionally, four suburban transit services receive partial funding from the MBTA.
The majority of local bus routes impose a one-way fare of $1.70 as of 2024. In contrast, the Silver Line waterfront routes (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW) charge the standard subway fare of $2.40. Express buses have a two-tier fare system: local segments cost the usual local fare, whereas express segments on highways are priced at $4.25.
Service levels were significantly impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic but were mostly restored by 2021. Since 2018, the MBTA has been undertaking a comprehensive redesign of its bus network aimed at improving service frequency and operational efficiency, with full implementation expected by 2028. The initial phase of this redesign commenced in December 2024.
Silver Line
The Silver Line comprises six bus rapid transit routes branded as rapid transit services. It is divided into Waterfront routes (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW), which operate through the South Boston Transitway tunnel, and Washington Street routes (SL4, SL5), running on surface streets. The Waterfront lines apply subway fare rates, while Washington Street lines charge standard bus fares. All Silver Line vehicles are articulated 60-foot buses; those on Waterfront routes are hybrid models equipped with extended battery capacity to allow electric operation within tunnels.
In 2002, SL5 replaced the Washington Street Elevated train service. The Shuttle service began in 2004, followed by the introduction of SL2 and the original SL3 later that same year. SL1 launched in 2005 utilizing dual-mode buses. After a planned tunnel extension was canceled, SL4 started operations in 2009. A new SL3 route connecting Chelsea was inaugurated in 2018.
Crosstown
The MBTA operates two crosstown (CT) routes that provide limited-stop service linking major subway stations and bus transfer points. Initially launched with three crosstown lines in 1994, route CT1 was merged into route 1 in 2019.
Routes 1–121
These routes form the backbone of local transit within Boston’s central metropolitan area, many tracing their origins to former Boston Elevated Railway streetcar lines. Arranged approximately in a clockwise sequence from southeast to northeast, this network has remained largely stable since transitioning from BERy through the Metropolitan Transit Authority to the MBTA.
Seven routes—serving areas such as Bedford, Waltham, Lexington, and Needham—originated from Middlesex and Boston Street Railway lines acquired by the MBTA in 1972.
In 2004, fourteen routes—including , , , , , , , , , , , , , and —were designated as key bus routes due to their high ridership and frequent service catering to densely populated urban corridors. However, with the Bus Network Redesign starting in 2024, this classification is being phased out in favor of an expanded frequent route network. Notably, routes 28 and 39 operate with articulated buses measuring 60 feet in length.
A set of four early morning round trips links outlying stations with over several local routes primarily for station agents but available to all riders. Internally numbered 191–194, these trips are presented as variants of local routes in published schedules.
... [List truncated for brevity; full route details available on MBTA resources] ...
131–137
Routes numbered 131 through 137 primarily serve the Melrose region, tracing their origins to former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that were incorporated into the MBTA network in 1968. Routes 136 and 137, which have since been discontinued, once extended to their original endpoints in Lowell and Lawrence, respectively. Initially, Route 132 was managed by Service Bus Lines until the MBTA assumed control in 1975.
171
Route 171 functions as an early morning limited service replacement for the discontinued CT3 route to Logan Airport since 2002. Other routes in the 170 series predominantly served industrial zones but were generally short-lived operations.
201–202
The original 20 belt route, established by the M.T.A. in 1962 from former BERy routes, was rebranded in 2005 as routes 201 and 202 to better distinguish travel directions around the Fields Corner Loop.
210–245
Routes numbered between 210 and 245 mainly operate within the Quincy area. These services evolved from Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that were integrated into the MBTA system in 1968 and originally ended at downtown terminals. With the gradual introduction of the Red Line's Braintree Branch during the 1970s and 1980s, most routes were redirected to terminate at rapid transit stations such as Quincy Center to improve transit connections.
350–354
These lines operate within the Burlington and Woburn regions, tracing their origins to the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway's Lowell–Boston corridor. The MBTA took over these services in 1968, subsequently shortening the routes to terminate at Burlington.
411–465
Serving Lynn and the North Shore areas, these routes encompass former Service Bus Lines (411, 430) acquired in 1975 alongside primarily Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway routes from 1968. Weekend versions with a W suffix operate shortened trips ending at Wonderland station.
501–558
These express services connect Newton with downtown Boston by way of the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). The MBTA launched the 500 series during the 1960s to capitalize on the new turnpike extension. The 550 series originated from Middlesex and Boston Street Railway routes serving Newton Corner, extended into downtown Boston in the 1960s, incorporated into the MBTA system in 1972, and later reduced back to Newton Corner in 2020.
Privately Operated Services
The MBTA provides subsidies for several suburban routes extending beyond its main network, which serve as connections to MBTA transit options. The radial commuter routes numbered 712 through 716 were formerly run by private companies before being integrated: Rapid Transit Inc. operates routes 712 and 713, Nantasket Transportation manages route 714, and Hudson Bus Lines runs route 716.
Unnumbered services function as local circulator routes created by municipalities with partial financial support from the MBTA. Except for the Beverly Shuttle, which is overseen by the Cape Ann Transportation Authority, these routes are all managed by private contractors.
