Bus division of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
MBTA Bus Division| Company type | Division |
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| Industry | Public transportation |
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| Predecessor | Boston Elevated Railway; Metropolitan Transit Authority; Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway; Middlesex and Boston Street Railway; Service Bus Lines; Rapid Transit Inc.; Nantasket Transportation; Hudson Bus Lines |
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| Founded | 1964 |
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| Headquarters | Boston , United States |
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Area served | Boston metropolitan area, Massachusetts, United States |
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| Products | Bus transit services, including local routes, express routes, Silver Line bus rapid transit |
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| Owner | Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) |
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| Parent | 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, providing connections to the MBTA subway, MBTA Commuter Rail, and other bus lines within the MBTA system. A majority of these routes trace their origins to former streetcar lines or suburban transit operators such as the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway. The MBTA directly oversees 147 routes, while four are operated by private contractors, and an additional four suburban services receive partial funding from the MBTA.
As of 2024, the standard local bus fare is $1.70 per trip. The Silver Line routes serving the waterfront (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW) require payment of the subway fare, which is $2.40. Express bus services apply a two-tier fare structure: $1.70 for local segments and $4.25 for express segments on highways.
Bus service experienced interruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic but was mostly reinstated by 2021, although some routes remain inactive. Since 2018, the MBTA has been developing an extensive redesign of its bus network, targeting full implementation by 2028; initial phases began rolling out in December 2024.
Silver Line
The Silver Line comprises six routes and operates as a bus rapid transit system branded to resemble rapid transit. It consists of two main branches: the Waterfront services (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW), which run through the South Boston Transitway tunnel, and the Washington Street services (SL4, SL5), which operate on surface streets. Fare policies differ between these branches—Waterfront lines charge subway fares while Washington Street lines use standard bus fares. All Silver Line vehicles are articulated buses measuring 60 feet in length; those on the Waterfront routes are hybrid models equipped with extended battery capacity to enable electric operation within tunnels.
The SL5 route commenced in 2002 as a replacement for the Washington Street Elevated. The Shuttle service launched in 2004, followed by SL2 and the original SL3 in that same year, with SL1 starting in 2005 using dual-mode buses. After plans for a tunnel extension were canceled, SL4 began service in 2009. A new SL3 route serving Chelsea was introduced in 2018.
Crosstown
The two crosstown (CT) routes provide limited-stop service linking key subway stations and major bus transfer hubs. Initially launched with three routes in 1994, CT1 was merged into route 1 in 2019.
1–121
These lines cover almost all local transit within Boston’s central metropolitan region, many of which have their roots in the streetcar routes originally operated by the Boston Elevated Railway. In 1947, the BERy was incorporated into the Metropolitan Transit Authority, which later evolved into the MBTA in 1964. Although there have been some route mergers and expansions, the fundamental network remains largely preserved.
Seven routes — , , , , , , and — extend service to western suburbs including Bedford, Waltham, Lexington, and Needham. These originated from former Middlesex and Boston Street Railway routes acquired in 1972 and were assigned numbers previously retired.
In 2004, fourteen routes — among them , , , , , , , , , , , , , and — were identified as key bus lines. These high-demand corridors complement the subway system by delivering frequent service to Boston’s most densely populated areas. Beginning in 2024, the MBTA’s Bus Network Redesign is phasing out the "key route" label in favor of a more comprehensive frequent service network. Notably, routes 28 and 39 utilize 60-foot articulated buses.
There are four early morning round trips between outlying stations and that traverse segments of several local routes. Designed primarily for station agents but accessible to all riders, these trips are internally numbered 191–194 and appear as local route variants in schedules.
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131–137
Routes numbered 131 through 137 operate in the Melrose vicinity and originate from former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that became part of the MBTA in 1968. The now-defunct route 136 and route 137 once extended briefly to Lowell and Lawrence under MBTA management. Route 132 was incorporated from Service Bus Lines in 1975.
171
Route 171 offers limited service as a substitute for early morning CT3 trips that were truncated from Logan Airport in 2002. Other routes in the 170 series mostly served industrial zones for brief periods.
201–202
The number 20 belt route was established by the M.T.A. in 1962 by combining BERy’s routes 20 and 21. In 2005, it was split into routes 201 and 202 to distinguish loop directions more clearly.
210–245
Primarily operating within Quincy, the routes numbered 210 through 245 originate from former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that became part of the MBTA system in 1968. Following the gradual introduction of the Red Line's Braintree Branch during the 1970s and 1980s, many of these routes were adjusted to conclude at rapid transit stations such as .
350–354
Serving the Burlington and Woburn regions, these routes descend from the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway's Lowell to Boston line, which the MBTA acquired in 1968. Over time, the route was shortened to terminate at Burlington.
411–465
Operating throughout Lynn and the North Shore area, these routes include former Service Bus Lines services (411 and 430) acquired in 1975 alongside primarily Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway routes absorbed in 1968. Two routes heading toward Haymarket feature weekend short-turn options that end at Wonderland, marked with a W suffix.
Template:Anchor 430430 Saugus , Massachusetts Saugus Center – Malden Center Station
{{ MBTA Bus EL 430} }
Template:Anchor 435435 Salem Station ( MBTA ) Salem Depot – Central Square , Lynn via Peabody Square
{{ MBTA Bus EL 435} }
Template:Anchor 436436
' Liberty Tree Mall ' – Central Square , Lynn via Goodwin Circle
{{ MBTA Bus EL 436} }
Template:Anchor 439439 Nahant , Massachusetts Nahant – Wonderland Station
{{ MBTA Bus EL 439} }
Template:Anchor 441441
' Marblehead ' – Wonderland Station via
Massachusetts Route 1A
{{ MBTA Bus EL 441} }
Template:Anchor 442442
Marblehead – Wonderland Station via Humphrey Street
{{ MBTA Bus EL 442} }
Template:Anchor 450450
Salem Depot –
Template:Bts Haymarket Station
{{ MBTA Bus EL 450} }
Template:Anchor 450W450W
Salem Depot – Wonderland Station
{{ MBTA Bus EL 450} }
Template:Anchor 451451 North Beverly Station – Salem Depot
{{ MBTA Bus EL 451} }
Template:Anchor 455455
Salem Depot – Wonderland Station
{{ MBTA Bus EL 455} }
Template:Anchor 456456
Salem Depot – Central Square , Lynn
{{ MBTA Bus EL 456} }
}
501–558
These express bus routes provide direct service between Newton and downtown Boston utilizing the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). Established in the 1960s by the MBTA, the 500 series was designed to capitalize on the Turnpike's extension into Boston. The 550 series has its origins in former Middlesex and Boston Street Railway lines serving Newton Corner, which were extended downtown during the 1960s and later incorporated into MBTA operations in 1972; however, these routes were truncated back to Newton Corner in 2020.
Privately operated routes
The MBTA provides partial funding for suburban routes beyond its primary service network that connect with MBTA transit services. Radial commuter lines numbered 712 through 716 were originally operated by private companies—Rapid Transit Inc. managed routes 712 and 713, Nantasket Transportation operated route 714, and Hudson Bus Lines ran route 716—before integration into the MBTA system.
Routes without numerical designations are local circulator services launched by municipalities, receiving some MBTA subsidy. Except for the Beverly Shuttle, which is managed by the Cape Ann Transportation Authority, all these routes are operated under contract by private firms.
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