Bus division of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority serving Boston area
MBTA Bus Division| Company type | Division of a public agency |
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| Industry | Public transportation |
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| Headquarters | Boston , United States |
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Area served | Boston metropolitan area |
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| Products | Bus transit services |
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| Owner | Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |
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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, all of which provide connections to MBTA subway, MBTA Commuter Rail, or other MBTA bus lines. The majority of these routes trace their origins to former streetcar lines operated by the Boston Elevated Railway or suburban transit companies such as the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway and Middlesex and Boston Street Railway. While the MBTA directly oversees 147 of these routes, four are operated by private contractors, and an additional four suburban routes receive partial funding from the MBTA.
As of 2024, the standard local bus fare is set at $1.70 for a one-way trip, whereas the Silver Line waterfront services (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW) require payment of the subway fare, currently $2.40. Express bus routes feature a two-tier fare system: a local segment charged at the regular bus rate and an express highway portion costing $4.25.
Most service cuts enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic were reinstated by 2021; however, certain routes remain inactive. Beginning in 2018, the MBTA initiated a comprehensive redesign of its bus network, with full implementation anticipated by 2028. The first phase of changes was rolled out in December 2024.
Silver Line
The Silver Line comprises six routes forming a bus rapid transit network promoted as rapid transit. It operates two distinct branches: the Waterfront services (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW), which utilize the South Boston Transitway tunnel, and the Washington Street services (SL4, SL5), running on surface streets. Waterfront routes apply subway fare pricing; in contrast, Washington Street branches charge standard bus fares. All Silver Line vehicles are 60-foot articulated buses; those on the Waterfront branch are hybrid models equipped with extended battery capacity to support electric operation within tunnels.
The SL5 route commenced service in 2002 as a replacement for the Washington Street Elevated. The Shuttle service began in 2004, followed later that year by SL2 and SL3. SL1 started operating in 2005 with dual-mode buses. After plans for a tunnel extension were canceled, SL4 was introduced in 2009. A new SL3 route to Chelsea launched in 2018.
Crosstown
The MBTA operates two crosstown bus routes identified as CT routes that provide limited-stop service linking key subway stations and major bus transfer hubs. Originally launched in 1994 with three crosstown routes, route CT1 was merged into route 1 in 2019.
1–121
These lines cover almost all local transit within Boston's central metropolitan region, with the majority originally established as streetcar routes by the Boston Elevated Railway. The numbering system generally follows a clockwise pattern from the southeast to the northeast. The BERy was incorporated into the Metropolitan Transit Authority in 1947, which later evolved into the MBTA in 1964. Although some routes have been combined or added over time, the fundamental structure of this network remains largely unchanged.
Seven routes — , , , , , , and — extend service to western suburban communities including Bedford, Waltham, Lexington, and Needham. These were inherited from the 1972 acquisition of lines formerly operated by Middlesex and Boston Street Railway.
In 2004, fourteen routes — such as , , , and — were identified as key bus routes due to their high passenger volumes. These important lines complement subway service by providing frequent transit options in densely populated urban neighborhoods. Starting in 2024, the MBTA is discontinuing the key route designation while broadening its frequent route program. Of particular note, routes 28 and 39 utilize 60-foot articulated buses for increased capacity.
There are four early morning round trips (internally numbered 191–194) that run over several local routes between outlying stations and . These trips mainly serve station agents but are available to all riders and are listed as variants of local routes in schedules.
131–137
Routes numbered 131 through 137 operate within the Melrose vicinity and trace their origins to former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that were absorbed into the MBTA in 1968. Route 136, now discontinued, and current route 137 briefly extended service to Lowell and Lawrence during MBTA administration. The 132 route was initially run by Service Bus Lines before being taken over by the MBTA in 1975.
171
Route 171 provides limited service and acts as a replacement for early morning CT3 operations that were cut back from Logan Airport in 2002. Other routes in the 170 series were short-term services catering to industrial zones.
201–202
Originally formed in 1962 by the M.T.A. from the 20 and 21 stubs of BERy, the 20 belt route was renumbered in 2005 as routes 201 and 202 to better distinguish the loop directions.
210–245
The routes numbered 210 through 245 primarily cover the Quincy region. These lines trace back to former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway services that were integrated into the system in 1968. Following the introduction of the Braintree Branch during the 1970s and 1980s, these routes were adjusted to terminate at Red Line stations.
350–354
Serving Burlington and Woburn, these routes originate from the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway’s Lowell–Boston corridor. The MBTA acquired this line in full in 1968 but later shortened it to end at Burlington.
411–465
Serving Lynn and the North Shore region, this collection of routes features two with weekend short-turn options (denoted by a W suffix) that conclude at Wonderland station. The 411 and 430 routes trace their origins to the 1975 acquisition of Service Bus Lines, while the remaining routes derive from former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines purchased in 1968.
| Route
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Description
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MBTA link
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| 411
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Kennedy Drive or Jack Satter House–
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| 424
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Eastern Avenue & Essex Street–
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| 426
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Central Square, Lynn–
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| 426W
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Central Square, Lynn–Wonderland station
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| 428
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Oaklandvale–Haymarket station
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| 429
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Northgate Shopping Center–Central Square, Lynn
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| 430
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Saugus Center–Malden Center station
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| 435
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'Salem Depot'–Central Square, Lynn via Peabody Square
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| 436
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'Liberty Tree Mall'–Central Square, Lynn via Goodwin Circle
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| 439
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'Nahant'–Wonderland station
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| 441
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'Marblehead'–Wonderland via Paradise Road
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| 442
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'Marblehead'–Wonderland via Humphrey Street
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| 450
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'Salem Depot'–
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| 'Salem Depot'–Wonderland station
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' Template:MBTA bus EL
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' |-
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| 'North Beverly station'–Salem Depot
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' Template:MBTA bus EL
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' |-
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| 'Salem Depot'–Wonderland station
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' Template:MBTA bus EL
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' |-
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| 'Salem Depot'–Central Square, Lynn
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' Template:MBTA bus EL
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' |}
501–558
These express services link Newton with downtown Boston by way of the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). Originating in the 1960s to capitalize on the turnpike's expansion, the 500 series encompasses routes initially run by the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway (notably the 550 series), which were integrated into MBTA operations in 1972 and shortened to terminate at Newton Corner as of 2020.
Privately operated routes
The MBTA provides partial subsidies for several suburban commuter lines extending beyond its primary service zones that connect to MBTA transit hubs. Routes numbered 712 through 716 were acquired from private companies including Rapid Transit Inc. (712/713), Nantasket Transportation (714), and Hudson Bus Lines (716).
Municipalities establish local circulator services—marked without route numbers on MBTA maps—with partial MBTA financial support. Most of these are contracted out to private operators; however, the Beverly Shuttle is uniquely managed by the Cape Ann Transportation Authority.
| Route
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Description
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MBTA link
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Operator
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| Template:MBTABus
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Point Shirley, Winthrop– via Revere Street
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Paul Revere Transportation
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| Template:MBTABus
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Point Shirley, Winthrop– via Winthrop Center
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External links
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