245 (MBTA bus)

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Bus System

Company type	Public transportation
Industry	Public transit
Headquarters	Boston , United States
Area served	Boston metropolitan region
Products	Bus routes, bus rapid transit (Silver Line)
Owner	Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Website	www.mbta.com

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) bus system manages 151 routes throughout the Boston metropolitan region, offering connections to the MBTA subway, Commuter Rail, and other bus services. Most of these routes originate from former streetcar lines or suburban transit companies such as the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway and the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway. Of these routes, the MBTA directly operates 147, while four are run by private contractors. Additionally, four suburban routes receive partial funding from the MBTA.

As of 2024, the standard fare for local buses is $1.70 per trip. The Silver Line waterfront routes (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW) charge a higher fare equivalent to the subway price of $2.40. Express buses feature a two-tier fare system: local segments are priced at the regular local fare, whereas travel on express highway portions costs $4.25.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, service levels were reduced or rerouted but had returned to pre-pandemic frequencies by 2021, though some routes remain suspended. Since 2018, the MBTA has been working on a comprehensive redesign of its bus network, with completion anticipated in 2028. The first phase of changes was implemented in December 2024.

Silver Line

The Silver Line is a bus rapid transit (BRT) network consisting of six routes that are promoted as rapid transit services. It is divided into two main segments: the Waterfront routes (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW), which operate through the South Boston Transitway tunnel, and the Washington Street routes (SL4, SL5), which run along surface streets. Waterfront services charge fares consistent with subway pricing, while Washington Street lines maintain standard bus fares. All Silver Line vehicles are articulated 60-foot buses; those on Waterfront routes are hybrid models equipped with extended electric capabilities for tunnel travel.

The SL5 route began operations in 2002 as a replacement for the Washington Street Elevated line. The Silver Line Shuttle started service in 2004, followed later that year by SL2 and the original SL3. SL1 commenced in 2005 utilizing dual-mode buses. The SL4 route was introduced in 2009 after plans for a Phase III tunnel were canceled. A new SL3 extension to Chelsea was launched in 2018.

Route	Description	MBTA link
SL1	Terminals at Logan Airport– 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 MBTA operates two crosstown (CT) bus routes that provide limited-stop service linking key subway stations and major bus transfer points. Originally launched in 1994 with three crosstown routes, route CT1 was consolidated into route 1 in 2019.

Route	Description	MBTA link
CT2	Between REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system and REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
CT3	Connecting Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL

1–121

These routes provide coverage for almost all local transit within the metropolitan center, with many originally derived from Boston Elevated Railway streetcar lines. Numbered approximately in a clockwise sequence from the southeast to the northeast, this network has remained largely consistent since the BERy period, despite some consolidations and additions introduced by the Metropolitan Transit Authority and MBTA.

Seven routes—, , , , , , and —extend service to more distant western suburbs such as Bedford, Waltham, Lexington, and Needham. These routes trace their origins to those acquired from the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway in 1972 and were assigned numbers previously retired.

In 2004, fourteen routes—including , , , , , , , , , , , , , and —were identified as key bus lines. These high-demand corridors complement subway operations by providing frequent service in the city’s most densely populated districts. Beginning in 2024, the MBTA’s Bus Network Redesign is phasing out the "key route" designation in favor of a wider frequent route system. Notably, routes 28 and 39 operate with 60-foot articulated buses.

Four early morning round trips run between outer stations and over several local lines. Though primarily intended for station staff, these trips are available to all passengers. Internally numbered 191–194, they appear as variants of local routes in published schedules.

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 serve the Melrose vicinity, originating from former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that became part of the MBTA system in 1968. The discontinued route 136 and route 137 once extended briefly to Lowell and Lawrence during MBTA management. Route 132 began as a Service Bus Lines operation before being integrated into the MBTA network 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 serves as a limited early morning replacement for the CT3 service that was truncated from Logan Airport in 2002. Other routes in the 170 series were short-lived services catering to industrial zones.

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

201–202

The "20 belt" route was created by the M.T.A. in 1962 by combining BERy’s former 20 and 21 segments. In 2005, it was split into routes 201 and 202 to better distinguish travel directions around 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 numbered 210 through 245 operate within the Quincy region and trace their origins to former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that the MBTA took over in 1968. After the Red Line's Braintree Branch opened in stages during the 1970s and 1980s, these bus routes were adjusted to conclude at rapid transit stations, mainly at .

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 through 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

350–354

Serving the Burlington and Woburn locales, these routes stem from the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway’s Lowell–Boston line, which the MBTA acquired in 1968 and subsequently shortened to terminate at Burlington.

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

411–465

These routes operate throughout Lynn and the North Shore area. They include former Service Bus Lines routes (411, 430) acquired in 1975 as well as primarily Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway routes taken over in 1968. Weekend variants with a W suffix represent short-turn trips that end at Wonderland station.

Route	Description	MBTA link
411	Kennedy Drive or Jack Satter House– REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
424	Eastern Avenue & Essex Street– REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL

Route	Description	MBTA link

Route	Description	MBTA link

Route	Description	MBTA link

Route	Description	MBTA link

Route	Description	MBTA link

Route	Description	MBTA link

Route	Description	MBTA link

Route	Description	MBTA link

Route	Description	MBTA link

Route	Description	MBTA link

Route	Description	MBTA link

Route	Description	MBTA link

Route	Description	MBTA link

1. REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system

426

|- | Template:MBTA bus EL |- |-

}

501–558

These express bus routes provide service between Newton and downtown Boston, utilizing the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). Established during the 1960s to take advantage of the turnpike's extension, the 500 series comprises former Middlesex and Boston Street Railway lines (550 series) that were extended into Boston during that decade and later incorporated into the MBTA system in 1972. In 2020, these routes were truncated to terminate once again at Newton Corner.

Route	Description	MBTA link
Template:MBTABus	Brighton Center to Federal Street & Franklin Street	Template:MBTA bus EL
Template:MBTABus	REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system to Federal Street & Franklin Street	Template:MBTA bus EL
505	Waltham Center to Federal Street & Franklin Street	Template:MBTA bus EL
553	Roberts to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
554	Waverley Square to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
556	Waltham Highlands to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
558	Riverside station to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL

Privately operated routes

Several suburban routes beyond the MBTA’s primary network receive partial funding from the authority and provide connections with MBTA transit. The radial commuter lines numbered 712 through 716 were purchased from private companies such as Rapid Transit Inc., Nantasket Transportation, and Hudson Bus Lines. Local circulator services without route numbers are operated by municipalities with some MBTA subsidies. Except for the Beverly Shuttle, which is managed by the Cape Ann Transportation Authority, all these services are run under private contracts.

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
BED	Local Transit service in Bedford, Massachusetts	Link	Town of Bedford
BEV	City of Beverly Shuttle service	Link	CATA
LEX	Lexpress service in Lexington, Massachusetts (4 routes)	Link	Town of Lexington
MIS	LINK shuttle in Mission Hill, Boston	Link	Volunteers

External links

• Official MBTA Bus Timetables and Route Maps