Bus system operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in Boston metropolitan area
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) bus system| Company type | Public transit agency |
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| Industry | Public transportation |
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| Headquarters | Boston , United States |
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Area served | Boston metropolitan region |
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| Products | Bus services, including local routes, express routes, Silver Line BRT |
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| Website | mbta.com |
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The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) bus system manages 151 routes within the Boston metropolitan region, integrating connections with MBTA subway lines, Commuter Rail, and additional bus services. Of these routes, the MBTA directly operates 147, while four are managed by private contractors under MBTA agreements. Furthermore, four suburban transit services receive partial funding support from the MBTA.
The standard local bus fare is set at $1.70 for a single trip as of 2024. In contrast, the Silver Line waterfront routes (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW) apply the subway fare rate of $2.40. Express buses include a local fare component plus an elevated express fare of $4.25 for travel on highway segments heading into downtown Boston.
Service experienced interruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic but was mostly reinstated by 2021, although some routes were permanently eliminated. Since 2018, the MBTA has been undertaking a thorough redesign of its bus network aimed at enhancing efficiency and increasing service frequency, with completion anticipated by 2028. The initial phase of this redesign commenced in December 2024.
Silver Line
The Silver Line comprises six bus rapid transit routes promoted as rapid transit services. It features two main branches: the Waterfront service (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW shuttle), which operates through the South Boston Transitway tunnel and charges subway fares; and the Washington Street service (SL4, SL5), which runs on surface streets with standard bus fares. All Silver Line vehicles are articulated buses measuring 60 feet in length; those assigned to Waterfront routes are hybrid models equipped with extended battery capacity to allow electric operation within tunnels.
The SL5 route was introduced in 2002 as a replacement for the Washington Street Elevated line. The Shuttle service began operating in 2004, followed by SL2 and the original SL3 also in 2004, and then SL1 in 2005 featuring dual-mode buses. The SL4 route started service in 2009 after plans for a tunnel extension were canceled. A new SL3 route connecting Chelsea opened in 2018.
Crosstown
The two crosstown (CT) routes offer limited-stop connections between key subway stations and major bus transfer points. Initially, three crosstown routes were launched by the MBTA in 1994; however, CT1 was merged into route 1 in 2019.
Routes 1–121
These routes cover nearly all local transit within Boston’s core metropolitan area; many originated as streetcar lines operated by the Boston Elevated Railway. Their numbering roughly follows a clockwise pattern from southeast to northeast and has remained mostly consistent since BERy days through transitions to the Metropolitan Transit Authority and later the MBTA. Some smaller routes have been consolidated into main trunk lines over time, with new lines added during both M.T.A. and MBTA administrations.
Seven routes—specifically , , , , , , and —serve western suburban communities such as Bedford, Waltham, Lexington, and Needham. These stem from the 1972 acquisition of Middlesex and Boston Street Railway lines and were renumbered using previously retired designations.
In 2004, fourteen routes—including , , , , , among others—were classified as key bus routes due to their high ridership levels. These heavily used lines provide frequent service that complements subway operations within densely populated urban zones. Beginning with the Bus Network Redesign rollout in 2024, the MBTA will retire the key route classification while expanding its frequent route network. Routes 28 and 39 utilize articulated buses measuring 60 feet.
A small number of early morning round trips operate between outlying stations and primarily serve station personnel but are open to all riders. These trips are internally numbered 191–194 and appear as variants of existing local routes in published schedules.
131–137
Routes numbered 131 through 137 provide service within the Melrose, Massachusetts region. These routes originated from former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that were incorporated into the MBTA system in 1968. Under MBTA management, routes 136 and 137 once briefly extended to the cities of Lowell and Lawrence, respectively, before being discontinued. Route 132 began as part of Service Bus Lines operations and was absorbed by the MBTA in 1975.
171
Route 171 operates as a limited service replacement for the early morning CT3 route, which was shortened from Logan Airport in 2002. Other routes in the 170 series were short-term industrial shuttle services.
201–202
The original 20 belt route was established by the Metropolitan Transit Authority in 1962 through the combination of BERY’s former routes 20 and 21 stubs. To better indicate the direction of travel around the loop, this route was renumbered as routes 201 and 202 in 2005.
210–245
The routes numbered between 210 and 245 operate primarily in the Quincy, Massachusetts area. These lines trace their origins back to former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway routes that were incorporated into the MBTA network in 1968. Following the gradual introduction of the Red Line’s Braintree Branch during the 1970s and 1980s, these services were adjusted to terminate mainly at rapid transit stations such as .
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350–354
Covering the Burlington and Woburn regions, these routes trace their origins to the Lowell–Boston line of the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway. The MBTA took over this route in its entirety in 1968, subsequently shortening the service to terminate in Burlington.
411–465
These routes operate throughout Lynn and the North Shore area. They encompass former Service Bus Lines routes (411 and 430), which were integrated in 1975, along with predominantly Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines acquired in 1968. Notably, two routes heading toward Haymarket have weekend variants marked with a W suffix that end at Wonderland station.
501–558
These express bus services provide transit between Newton and Boston's downtown area utilizing the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). The MBTA launched the 500 series in the 1960s to take advantage of the newly extended turnpike. The 550 series traces its origins to former Middlesex and Boston Street Railway routes serving Newton Corner, which were extended into downtown Boston during the 1960s and later integrated into the MBTA system in 1972. In 2020, these routes were shortened to terminate again at Newton Corner.
Privately operated routes
The MBTA provides partial funding for several suburban routes beyond its primary service region that connect with MBTA transit options. Routes numbered 712 through 716 are radial commuter lines formerly operated by private companies—Rapid Transit Inc. (712/713), Nantasket Transportation (714), and Hudson Bus Lines (716)—and now subsidized by the MBTA.
Routes without numbers serve as local circulators initiated by municipalities with some financial support from the MBTA. Except for the Beverly Shuttle, managed by the Cape Ann Transportation Authority, all these services are run under contract by private operators.
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