Bus system serving the Boston metropolitan area
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) bus system| Company type | Public transit 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 |
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| Products | Bus services, including local, express, Silver Line BRT |
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| Website | www.mbta.com/bus |
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The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) bus system manages 151 routes throughout the Boston metropolitan region, providing connections to MBTA subway lines, Commuter Rail services, and other bus networks. Many of these routes originated from former streetcar lines or were once operated by suburban companies such as the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway and Middlesex and Boston Street Railway. The MBTA directly runs 147 of these routes, while four are operated under contract by private firms; additionally, four suburban routes receive partial funding from the MBTA.
As of 2024, the standard fare for local bus rides is $1.70 per trip. The Silver Line’s waterfront routes (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW) require the typical subway fare of $2.40. Express bus services have a dual fare structure: passengers pay the local fare for the initial segment and $4.25 for the express portion on highways.
Bus operations experienced interruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic but returned to their previous service levels by 2021, although some routes were eliminated. Since 2018, the MBTA has been undertaking a comprehensive redesign of its bus network, with full implementation anticipated by 2028; initial modifications commenced in December 2024.
Silver Line
The Silver Line comprises six bus rapid transit routes promoted as rapid transit service. It is divided into two main segments: the Waterfront branch (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW shuttle), which travels through the South Boston Transitway tunnel, and the Washington Street branch (SL4, SL5), which operates on surface streets. The Waterfront lines charge fares equivalent to subway prices, whereas Washington Street lines maintain standard bus fare levels. All Silver Line vehicles are articulated buses measuring 60 feet in length; those serving the Waterfront are hybrid models equipped with extended-range batteries suitable for electric operation within tunnels.
The SL5 route began service in 2002 as a replacement for the Washington Street Elevated rail line; the Shuttle started running in 2004, followed later that year by SL2 and SL3. The SL1 commenced in 2005 utilizing dual-mode buses. After cancellation of a planned Phase III tunnel expansion, the SL4 was introduced in 2009. A new SL3 extension to Chelsea was launched in 2018.
Crosstown
The MBTA’s two crosstown (CT) routes provide limited-stop service linking key subway stations and major bus transfer hubs. Initially launched with three routes in 1994, route CT1 was merged into route 1 in 2019.
1–121
These routes cover nearly all local transit services within the metropolitan center, with most originally established as streetcar lines under the Boston Elevated Railway. Arranged approximately in a clockwise sequence from southeast to northeast, this system has remained mostly stable since the BERy period, despite some consolidations and expansions during the Metropolitan Transit Authority and MBTA eras.
Seven routes—, , , , , , and —serve western suburban communities such as Bedford, Waltham, Lexington, and Needham. These lines trace their origins to routes acquired from the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway in 1972.
In 2004, fourteen routes—, , , , , , , , , , , , , and —were identified as key bus routes. These high-demand corridors complement subway lines by offering increased frequency to densely populated urban zones. Beginning in 2024, the MBTA’s Bus Network Redesign will replace the key route designation with a more expansive frequent route network. Notably, routes 28 and 39 operate using 60-foot articulated buses.
Four early morning round trips connect peripheral stations with over multiple local routes. Intended primarily for station personnel but accessible to all riders, these trips are internally numbered 191–194 and appear as variations of local routes.
... [List continues with remaining routes summarized similarly] ...
131–137
Routes numbered 131 through 137 serve the Melrose region and originated from former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines integrated into the MBTA system in 1968. The now-discontinued 136 and current 137 briefly extended service to Lowell and Lawrence under MBTA management. Initially operated by Service Bus Lines, route 132 was transferred to MBTA control in 1975.
171
Route 171 functions as a limited-service substitute for early morning CT3 trips that were cut back from Logan Airport in 2002. Other routes in the 170 series were short-duration industrial shuttle services.
201–202
The belt route numbered 20 was formed by the M.T.A. in 1962 through the combination of BERy’s original 20 and 21 branches. In 2005, this loop was split into routes 201 and 202 to clarify their respective directions.
210–245
Routes numbered 210 through 245 primarily operate within the Quincy region. These lines were initially part of the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway network before being integrated into the MBTA system in 1968. Most of these services originally concluded at Fields Corner station. Following the introduction of the Red Line Braintree Branch during the 1970s and 1980s, many routes were redirected to serve newer rapid transit hubs, with Quincy Center becoming the main terminus.
350–354
Serving the Burlington and Woburn areas, routes 350 through 354 trace their origins back to the Lowell–Boston corridor of the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway, which the MBTA acquired in 1968. Over time, these routes were shortened to terminate at Burlington.
411–465
Operating throughout Lynn and the broader North Shore region, these routes include lines acquired from Service Bus Lines in 1975 (such as 411 and 430) as well as former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway services absorbed in 1968. Certain routes terminating at Haymarket offer weekend variants that short-turn at Wonderland station.
| Route
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Description
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MBTA link
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| 411
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Service between Kennedy Drive or Jack Satter House and other points
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| 424
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Covers Eastern Avenue & Essex Street areas
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| 426
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(Central Square, Lynn) via Lynn station
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| 426W
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(Central Square, Lynn) to Wonderland station
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| 428
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(Oaklandvale) to Haymarket station
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| ' '429
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(Northgate Shopping Center) to Central Square, Lynn
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| ' '430
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(Saugus Center) to Malden Center station
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| ' '435
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(Salem Depot) to Central Square, Lynn via Peabody Square
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| ' '436
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(Liberty Tree Mall) to Central Square, Lynn via Goodwin Circle
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350–354
Operating between Burlington and Woburn, these routes originated from the Lowell–Boston corridor of the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway, which the MBTA took over in 1968 before subsequently shortening service to Burlington.
411–465
Covering Lynn and the North Shore area, these lines include former Service Bus Lines routes (411, 430) acquired in 1975, along with Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines dating back to 1968. On weekends, two Haymarket routes feature abbreviated trips (marked with suffix W) that end at Wonderland.
501–558
These express services connect Newton with downtown Boston through the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). Established by the MBTA during the 1960s alongside the turnpike extension, the 500 series encompasses routes initially operated by the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway before their integration into MBTA operations in 1972 and subsequent reduction of service to Newton Corner in 2020.
Privately operated routes
The MBTA provides partial funding for suburban routes beyond its central network that connect with MBTA transit services. Routes 712 through 716 represent radial commuter lines that were formerly operated by private companies—Rapid Transit Inc. manages 712 and 713, Nantasket Transportation operates 714, and Hudson Bus Lines runs 716. Local circulator services without route numbers are established by municipalities and receive some MBTA financial support. Except for the Beverly Shuttle, which is operated by the Cape Ann Transportation Authority, all these services are contracted to private providers.
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