33 (MBTA bus)

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Bus Division

Company type	Public agency division
Industry	Public transportation
Headquarters	Boston , United States
Area served	Boston metropolitan region
Products	Bus transit services, including local, express, and bus rapid transit (Silver Line)
Owner	Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Website	mbta.com/bus

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) bus division manages 151 routes throughout the Boston metropolitan region, all providing connections to MBTA subway lines, Commuter Rail, or other bus routes. Of these, 147 are directly run by the MBTA, while four are operated by private contractors. In addition, four suburban services receive partial funding from the MBTA.

The majority of bus routes charge a local fare of $1.70 for a one-way trip (2024). The Silver Line waterfront routes (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW) require the standard subway fare of $2.40. Express buses feature a local section priced at the local fare and an express highway portion costing $4.25.

Service levels were significantly affected during the COVID-19 pandemic but were mostly restored by 2021; however, some routes remain suspended. Since 2018, the MBTA has been developing a comprehensive bus network redesign with an expected completion date in 2028; initial modifications commenced in December 2024.

Silver Line

The Silver Line comprises six bus rapid transit routes promoted as rapid transit service. It consists of Waterfront routes (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW shuttle) that utilize the South Boston Transitway tunnel and Washington Street routes (SL4, SL5) operating on surface streets. The Waterfront lines charge fares equivalent to the subway system, whereas the Washington Street lines apply standard bus fares. All Silver Line vehicles are articulated 60-foot buses; Waterfront services use hybrid buses with extended battery capacity to allow electric operation within tunnels.

The SL5 route began in 2002 as a replacement for the Washington Street Elevated train; the Shuttle service started in 2004; SL2 and SL3 also launched in 2004; SL1 commenced in 2005 operating dual-mode buses. The SL4 route was introduced in 2009 following the cancellation of a planned tunnel project. A new SL3 extension to Chelsea opened in 2018.

Route	Description	MBTA link
SL1	Logan Airport terminals to South Station	Template:MBTA bus EL
SL2	Drydock Avenue to South Station	Template:MBTA bus EL
SL3	Chelsea to South Station	Template:MBTA bus EL
SLW	Silver Line Way to South Station	Template:MBTA bus EL
SL4	Nubian station to South Station	Template:MBTA bus EL
SL5	Nubian station to Downtown Crossing (Temple Place)	Template:MBTA bus EL

Crosstown

Two crosstown (CT) routes offer limited-stop service linking major subway stations and key bus transfer points. Originally launched with three crosstown lines in 1994, route CT1 was merged into route 1 in 2019.

Route	Description	MBTA link
CT2	From REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system to 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

Routes 1–121

These routes encompass nearly all local bus service within Boston’s urban core, many tracing their origins back to former Boston Elevated Railway streetcar lines. Numbered approximately clockwise from the southeast to northeast sectors, this network has evolved from the Metropolitan Transit Authority into today’s MBTA while preserving its fundamental layout with some expansions.

Seven specific routes — , , , , , , and — serve western suburban communities such as Bedford, Waltham, Lexington, and Needham. These lines stem from the 1972 acquisition of Middlesex and Boston Street Railway operations and were renumbered accordingly.

In 2004, fourteen routes — including , , , and — were identified as key bus corridors due to their high ridership levels and their function supplementing subway service in densely populated areas. These key routes operate at increased frequencies. The MBTA’s ongoing Bus Network Redesign starting in 2024 is phasing out the "key route" designation in favor of a more extensive frequent route network. Routes 28 and 39 utilize articulated buses measuring 60 feet in length.

Four early morning round trips (191–194) provide connections between outlying stations and , primarily intended for station agents but accessible to all riders; these trips combine segments from various local lines.

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Route	Description	MBTA link
1	Between Harvard Square and REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
4	From REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system to Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park	Template:MBTA bus EL
7	Connecting REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system with Downtown Crossing station (Otis Street & Summer Street)	Template:MBTA bus EL

131–137

Routes numbered 131 through 137 primarily serve the Melrose region. These lines trace their origins to the former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway routes that were incorporated into the MBTA system in 1968. Under MBTA management, routes 136 and 137 once extended briefly to Lowell and Lawrence but have since been discontinued. Route 132 was originally run by Service Bus Lines before the MBTA assumed operation in 1975.

Route	Description	MBTA link
131	From Melrose Highlands to either REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system or REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
132	Connecting Redstone Shopping Center with REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
134	Service between North Woburn and REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
137	Linking Reading Depot to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL

171

Route 171 operates as a limited early morning service, substituting the former CT3 route following its reduction in 2002 at Logan Airport. Other routes in the 170 series were previously short-term industrial shuttle services.

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

201–202

The original 20 belt route was established in 1962 by combining BERY’s former routes 20 and 21 segments. In 2005, it was split into two separate routes—201 and 202—to better distinguish the different directional loops serving Fields Corner.

Route	Description	MBTA link
201	Fields Corner loop traveling via Neponset Avenue	Template:MBTA bus EL
202	Fields Corner loop running through Adams Street	Template:MBTA bus EL

210–245

The collection of routes between 210 and 245 operate throughout Quincy, Massachusetts, originating from former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that were absorbed in 1968. Following the gradual inauguration of the Red Line’s Braintree Branch during the 1970s and 1980s, these routes were adjusted to terminate mainly at rapid transit stations such as .

Route	Description	MBTA link
210
211	–Squantum
215	– via West Quincy
216		Houghs Neck via Germantown
217	–
220	Hingham Depot–
222	East Weymouth –		-	225	Weymouth Landing/East Braintree station –		-	226	Weymouth, Massachusetts Columbian Square – Braintree station ( MBTA )		-	230	Montello station –		-	236	South Shore Plaza –		-	238	Holbrook/Randolph station –		-	240	Avon, Massachusetts Avon Square –		-	245	–   |   { { MBTA bus EL  } }   |   - } 350–354 These lines operate within the Burlington and Woburn regions, originally part of the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway's Lowell–Boston corridor. The MBTA took control of this line in 1968 and subsequently shortened its route to terminate in Burlington. Route Description MBTA link 350 Alewife station–North Burlington Template:MBTA bus EL 351 Third Avenue–Bedford Woods Drive Template:MBTA bus EL 354 State Street, Boston–North Burlington Template:MBTA bus EL 411–465 Serving the Lynn area and North Shore, these routes include former Service Bus Lines (411, 430) acquired in 1975, along with Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway routes obtained in 1968. Weekend short-turn versions (denoted by W) conclude their trips at Wonderland station. Route Description MBTA link 411 Malden Center station–Kennedy Drive or Jack Satter House Template:MBTA bus EL 424 Wonderland station–Eastern Avenue & Essex Street Template:MBTA bus EL 426 Haymarket station–Central Square, Lynn Template:MBTA bus EL 426W Wonderland station–Central Square, Lynn Template:MBTA bus EL 428 Haymarket station–Oaklandvale Template:MBTA bus EL 429 Central Square, Lynn–Northgate Shopping Center Template:MBTA bus EL 430 Malden Center station–Saugus Center Template:MBTA bus EL 435 Central Square, Lynn via Peabody Square–Salem Depot Template:MBTA bus EL 436 "Liberty Tree Mall"–Central Square, Lynn via Goodwin Circle Template:MBTA bus EL 439 Wonderland station–Nahant, Massachusetts Template:MBTA bus EL 441 Wonderland station via Massachusetts Route 1A–Marblehead, Massachusetts Template:MBTA bus EL 442 Wonderland station via Humphrey Street–Marblehead Template:MBTA bus EL 450 Haymarket station–Salem Depot Template:MBTA bus EL 450W Wonderland station–Salem Depot Template:MBTA bus EL 451 Salem Depot–North Beverly station Template:MBTA bus EL 455 Wonderland station–Salem Depot Template:MBTA bus EL 456 Central Square, Lynn–Salem Depot Template:MBTA bus EL 501–558 These express services link Newton with downtown Boston through the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). Initiated by the MBTA during the 1960s to take advantage of the turnpike's extension, the 500 series includes former Middlesex and Boston Street Railway routes (550 series) that were extended into downtown Boston during that decade and later acquired by the MBTA in 1972. In 2020, these routes were shortened to terminate at Newton Corner. Template:Anchor/554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554Template:554 Privately operated routes Several suburban bus routes outside the MBTA's primary service zone receive partial financial support from the MBTA and provide connections to its transit network. The commuter lines numbered 712 through 716 are radial services that were formerly run by private companies such as Rapid Transit Inc., Nantasket Transportation, and Hudson Bus Lines before being incorporated into the MBTA system. Local circulator routes without numerical designations are established by municipalities and benefit from some MBTA funding. These services are generally managed by private contractors, with the exception of the Beverly Shuttle, which is operated by the Cape Ann Transportation Authority. Route Description MBTA link 501 Federal Street & Franklin Street–Brighton Center Template:MBTA bus EL 504 Federal Street & Franklin Street–Watertown Yard Template:MBTA bus EL 505 Federal Street & Franklin Street–Waltham Center Template:MBTA bus EL 553 Newton Corner–Roberts (Brandeis/Roberts station) Template:MBTA bus EL Route Description MBTA link Operator Template:MBTABus Point Shirley in Winthrop to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system via Revere Street Template:MBTA bus EL Paul Revere Transportation Template:MBTABus Point Shirley in Winthrop to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system via Winthrop Center Template:MBTA bus EL 714 Route between Pemberton Point, Hull, Massachusetts and Station Street, Hingham, Massachusetts Template:MBTA bus EL DPV Transportation 716 Service connecting Cobbs Corner to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system Template:MBTA bus EL (Bedford) Local Transit service Town of Bedford (Beverly) City Shuttle service CATA (Lexington) Lexpress covering four routes Town of Lexington (Mission Hill) LINK service Volunteers