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 | Metropolitan Boston, Massachusetts |
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| Products | Bus transit services, including Silver Line BRT |
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| Owner | Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |
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| Website | www.mbta.com/schedules/bus |
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The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) bus division manages 151 routes across the metropolitan Boston, Massachusetts area. Every route connects with the MBTA subway system, Commuter Rail lines, or other MBTA bus services. A significant number of these routes trace their origins to former streetcar lines operated by the Boston Elevated Railway or suburban transit providers such as the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway and Middlesex and Boston Street Railway. The MBTA operates 147 of these routes directly, while four are managed by private contractors, alongside four additional suburban routes that receive partial MBTA funding.
As of 2024, the standard fare for local bus rides is $1.70 per one-way trip. The Silver Line routes serving the waterfront (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW) require the standard subway fare of $2.40. Express bus services charge $1.70 for the local segment and an additional $4.25 for travel on express highways.
Service was interrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic but had largely returned to its previous level by 2021, although some lines remain inactive. Since 2018, the MBTA has been engaged in a comprehensive redesign of its bus network, targeting completion by 2028; initial modifications commenced in December 2024.
Silver Line
The Silver Line represents a six-route bus rapid transit (BRT) system promoted as a rapid transit option. It consists of two distinct branches: 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. Waterfront routes apply subway fares, whereas Washington Street routes charge standard bus fares. All Silver Line vehicles are articulated buses measuring 60 feet in length; those on the Waterfront branch are hybrid models equipped with extended battery capacity to enable electric operation within tunnels.
The SL5 route was introduced in 2002 as a replacement for the Washington Street Elevated rail line. The Shuttle service began operations in 2004, followed by SL2 and SL3 later that year. SL1 launched in 2005 utilizing dual-mode buses. The SL4 route started in 2009 to substitute for a canceled tunnel project. A new SL3 extension to Chelsea commenced service in 2018.
Crosstown
The two crosstown (CT) routes provide limited-stop service linking key subway stations and bus transfer hubs. Initially established by the MBTA in 1994 as three separate routes, CT1 was merged into route 1 in 2019.
1–121
These routes encompass nearly all local transit within the metropolitan center, with most originally established as streetcar lines by the Boston Elevated Railway. Numbered approximately in a clockwise sequence from the southeast to the northeast, this network has largely persisted since the BERy period, despite minor consolidations and expansions under the Metropolitan Transit Authority and subsequently the MBTA.
Seven routes—, , , , , , and —serve western suburban communities such as Bedford, Waltham, Lexington, and Needham. These lines trace their origins to former Middlesex and Boston Street Railway services acquired in 1972 and reassigned numbers previously unused.
In 2004, fourteen routes—, , , , , , , , , , , , , and —were identified as key bus routes. These high-demand corridors complement the subway system by delivering frequent service to Boston's most densely populated neighborhoods. Beginning in 2024, the MBTA is retiring the "key bus route" label while broadening its frequent service network. Notably, routes 28 and 39 operate with 60-foot articulated buses.
Four early morning round trips operate between outlying stations and via various local routes. Originally intended for station staff but accessible to all riders, these trips are internally numbered 191–194 but are listed as variations of local routes in published schedules.
131–137
Routes numbered 131 through 137 cover the Melrose vicinity, descending from former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that became part of the MBTA system in 1968. Route 136 has been discontinued, while route 137 briefly extended service to Lowell and Lawrence during MBTA operation. Route 132 was originally operated by Service Bus Lines before transitioning to MBTA management in 1975.
171
Route 171 provides limited service as a substitute for early morning CT3 trips that were truncated from Logan Airport in 2002. Other routes in the 170 series were predominantly short-lived industrial shuttle services.
201–202
The 20 belt route, initially established by the M.T.A. in 1962 from the BERY's 20 and 21 segments, was renumbered in 2005 as routes 201 and 202 to better distinguish the direction of the loops.
210–245
Routes numbered 210 through 245 operate throughout Quincy and trace their origins to former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that were incorporated into the MBTA in 1968. Following the introduction of the Red Line Braintree Branch (in 1971 and the 1980s), these routes were adjusted to end at rapid transit stations, predominantly at .
350–354
These routes cover the Burlington and Woburn regions, evolving from the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway’s Lowell–Boston line, which was taken over by the MBTA in 1968 and subsequently shortened to terminate at Burlington.
411–465
Serving Lynn and the North Shore region, these routes encompass former Service Bus Lines (411, 430) that were integrated in 1975, along with Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway routes acquired in 1968. Weekend short-turn variations, identified by a W suffix, conclude their trips at Wonderland station.
501–558
These express services link Newton with downtown Boston via the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). The MBTA launched the 500 series during the 1960s to utilize the turnpike's extension into Boston. The 550 series originated from Middlesex and Boston Street Railway routes terminating at Newton Corner, which were extended downtown in the 1960s before MBTA acquisition in 1972; these routes were later truncated back to Newton Corner in 2020.
| Route
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Description
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MBTA link
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| 501
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Brighton Center to Federal Street & Franklin Street in Boston's Financial District
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Template:MBTA bus EL
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| 504
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Watertown Yard to Federal Street & Franklin Street in Boston's Financial District
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Template:MBTA bus EL
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| 505
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Waltham Center to Federal Street & Franklin Street in Boston's Financial District
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Template:MBTA bus EL
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| 553
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Roberts station (Brandeis/Roberts) to Newton Corner
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Template:MBTA bus EL
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| 554
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Waverley Square (Waverley station) to Newton Corner
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Template:MBTA bus EL
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Privately operated routes
Several suburban routes extending beyond the MBTA's primary service region receive partial funding from the MBTA and provide connections to its transit network. The radial commuter lines numbered 712 through 716 were originally operated by private companies before being acquired—specifically, Rapid Transit Inc. managed routes 712 and 713, Nantasket Transportation handled route 714, and Hudson Bus Lines operated route 716.
Routes without numerical designations serve as local circulators, created by municipalities with some financial backing from the MBTA. Except for the Beverly Shuttle, which is managed by the Cape Ann Transportation Authority, all these services are privately run under contractual agreements.
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