Bus division of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in Boston metropolitan area
MBTA Bus Division| Company type | Division of a public 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 routes and services, including 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 MBTA bus division of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority manages 151 routes throughout the Boston, Massachusetts metropolitan region. Each route provides connections to the MBTA subway, MBTA Commuter Rail, or other bus lines. Many of these routes trace their origins back to historic streetcar services operated by the Boston Elevated Railway or suburban transit companies such as the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway and Middlesex and Boston Street Railway. The MBTA directly oversees 147 of these routes, while four are operated by private contractors, and an additional four suburban routes receive partial funding from the MBTA.
As of 2024, the local bus fare is set at $1.70 per one-way trip. The Silver Line waterfront routes (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW) require the standard subway fare of $2.40. Express bus services incorporate a dual fare system: a local segment charged at the regular bus fare and an express highway portion priced at $4.25.
Service levels were significantly impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic but were mostly restored by 2021, although some routes were permanently discontinued. Since 2018, the MBTA has been undertaking an extensive redesign of its bus network, with completion anticipated by 2028; initial modifications commenced in December 2024.
Silver Line
The Silver Line comprises six bus rapid transit (BRT) routes promoted as rapid transit service. It features two main branches: the Waterfront service (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW shuttle), which operates through the South Boston Transitway tunnel, and the Washington Street service (SL4, SL5), which runs on surface streets. Waterfront routes require payment of the subway fare, whereas Washington Street routes charge the standard bus fare. All Silver Line vehicles are articulated buses; those on Waterfront routes utilize hybrid models with enhanced battery capacity to enable electric operation within the tunnel.
The SL5 route commenced in 2002 as a replacement for the Washington Street Elevated. The Shuttle began operations in 2004, followed by SL2 and the original SL3 later that year, with SL1 starting in 2005 utilizing dual-mode buses. SL4 launched in 2009 after a planned tunnel project was canceled. A new SL3 route serving Chelsea was introduced in 2018.
Crosstown
Two crosstown (CT) routes provide limited-stop service linking key subway stations and major bus transfer hubs. Originally, three crosstown routes were introduced in 1994; however, route CT1 was merged into route 1 in 2019.
1–121
These routes predominantly offer local transit within the metropolitan center, many of which have their origins as streetcar lines operated by the Boston Elevated Railway. Arranged approximately in a clockwise sequence from the southeast to the northeast, they have remained mostly unchanged since the BERy period, despite some consolidations and expansions under both the M.T.A. and MBTA administrations.
Seven routes—, , , , , , and —serve the western suburban areas such as Bedford, Waltham, Lexington, and Needham. These routes evolved from the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway lines acquired in 1972 and subsequently renumbered.
A total of fourteen routes—including , , , , , , , , , , , , , and —were identified as key bus routes in 2004 because of their significant ridership and frequent service catering to densely populated urban zones. The MBTA's Bus Network Redesign initiative, commencing in 2024, is gradually phasing out this classification while broadening the network of frequent service routes. Notably, routes 28 and 39 operate with 60-foot articulated buses.
Four early morning round trips (191–194) operate between peripheral stations and over various local routes. Although primarily intended for station staff, these trips are accessible to all passengers.
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131–137
Routes numbered 131 through 137 cover the Melrose vicinity and are based on former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that became part of the MBTA system in 1968. The now-discontinued routes 136 and 137 once extended briefly to Lowell and Lawrence while under MBTA management. Route 132 originated as a Service Bus Lines route before transitioning to MBTA operation in 1975.
171
Route 171 offers limited service as a substitute for early morning CT3 trips that were shortened from Logan Airport in 2002. Other routes in the 170 series have historically provided temporary service to industrial zones.
201–202
The "20 belt" route was established by the M.T.A. in 1962, combining segments of BERy's former routes 20 and 21. In 2005, it was split into routes 201 and 202 to better distinguish loop directions.
210–245
Routes numbered 210 through 245 operate within the Quincy, Massachusetts region, tracing their origins to the former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that the MBTA took over in 1968. Following the gradual introduction of the Red Line's Braintree Branch during the 1970s and 1980s, these routes were adjusted to conclude at rapid transit stations, predominantly at .
350–354
Serving the Burlington and Woburn locales, these routes descend from the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway's Lowell to Boston corridor, which the MBTA acquired in 1968 and later shortened to terminate in Burlington.
411–465
Operating across Lynn and the North Shore area, these routes encompass former Service Bus Lines services (routes 411 and 430) acquired in 1975, alongside primarily Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines taken over in 1968. On weekends, abbreviated versions of some routes (designated with a W suffix) conclude at Wonderland station.
501–558
These express bus routes provide service between Newton and downtown Boston along the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). Originating in the 1960s to take advantage of the turnpike's extension, the 500 series evolved from former Middlesex and Boston Street Railway routes (notably the 550 series) that were extended into downtown Boston during that period and later absorbed by the MBTA in 1972. In 2020, these routes were truncated to terminate at Newton Corner once again.
Privately operated routes
The MBTA provides partial funding for several suburban routes located outside its primary service area that connect with its transit system. The commuter routes numbered 712 through 716 were acquired from private companies: Rapid Transit Inc. operates routes 712 and 713, Nantasket Transportation runs route 714, and Hudson Bus Lines manages route 716.
Unnumbered services function as local circulators initiated by municipalities with some MBTA financial support. Except for the Beverly Shuttle, which is operated by the Cape Ann Transportation Authority, all these routes are run by private contractors.
