The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) bus division manages 151 routes throughout the Boston metropolitan region, linking passengers with the MBTA subway, MBTA Commuter Rail, and other bus lines within the system. A majority of these routes trace their origins to former streetcar lines operated by the Boston Elevated Railway and various suburban transit companies such as the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway. Of these, the MBTA directly oversees 147 routes, while four are run by private contractors; additionally, four suburban services receive partial funding from the MBTA.
As of 2024, the local bus fare is set at $1.70 for a one-way trip. The Silver Line’s waterfront services (SL1, SL2, SL3, and SLW) apply the subway fare of $2.40. Express buses charge a local fare for trips within local zones and an express fare of $4.25 for travel into downtown Boston.
Bus operations faced interruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic but were largely restored to pre-pandemic service levels by 2021, though some routes remain inactive. Since 2018, the MBTA has been working on a comprehensive redesign of its bus network, aiming for completion by 2028; initial modifications commenced in December 2024.
Silver Line
The Silver Line comprises six bus rapid transit (BRT) routes promoted as rapid transit service. It consists of two main branches: the Waterfront line (SL1, SL2, SL3, and the rush-hour SLW shuttle), which runs through the South Boston Transitway tunnel, and the Washington Street line (SL4 and SL5), operating primarily on surface streets. The Waterfront routes charge fares equivalent to subway rides, whereas Washington Street routes maintain standard bus pricing. All Silver Line vehicles are articulated 60-foot buses; those serving Waterfront routes are hybrids equipped with enhanced battery capacity to enable electric operation within tunnels.
The SL5 replaced the Washington Street Elevated rail line in 2002. The Shuttle service began in 2004, followed by the introduction of SL2 and the original SL3 in that same year. SL1 started service in 2005 utilizing dual-mode buses. The SL4 route was launched in 2009 after cancellation of plans for Phase III of the tunnel project. In 2018, a new SL3 route connecting Chelsea was inaugurated.
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The MBTA operates two crosstown (CT) routes providing limited-stop service designed to link key subway and bus transfer locations efficiently. Initially launched in 1994 with three crosstown lines, route CT1 was merged into route 1 in 2019.
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These routes provide nearly all local transit within the metropolitan center, many tracing their origins to the original Boston Elevated Railway streetcar lines. The BERy was absorbed by the Metropolitan Transit Authority in 1947, which later transformed into the MBTA in 1964. Although some routes have been combined or added, the fundamental network remains mostly unchanged.
Seven routes—, , , , , , and —serve the western suburbs including Bedford, Waltham, Lexington, and Needham. These lines originated from those acquired from the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway in 1972 and were renumbered using retired route numbers.
In 2004, fourteen routes—including , , , , , , , among others—were identified as key bus routes. These high-demand lines provide frequent service that complements subway coverage in densely populated urban zones. Beginning in 2024, the MBTA's Bus Network Redesign will retire the "key bus" designation and broaden a larger network of frequent service routes. Routes 28 and 39 operate with 60-foot articulated buses.
There are four early morning round trips running between outlying stations and , covering segments of several local routes. Intended mainly for station personnel but accessible to all riders, these trips are internally numbered 191–194 but appear as variants of local routes.
... [routes 8 through 121 listed similarly, omitted here for brevity] ...
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Routes numbered 131 through 137 operate in the Melrose region and stem from former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines incorporated into the MBTA system in 1968. Routes 136 (now discontinued) and 137 once briefly extended service to Lowell and Lawrence during MBTA management. Route 132 originally belonged to Service Bus Lines before coming under MBTA operation in 1975.
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Route 171 functions as a limited service substitute for early morning CT3 trips that were shortened from Logan Airport in 2002. Most other routes in the 170 series were short-lived industrial shuttle services.
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Initially established in 1962 by combining BERY’s 20 and 21 short lines, the original 20 belt route was renamed in 2005 as routes 201 and 202 to better distinguish the loop travel directions.
Serving the Quincy, Massachusetts region, routes numbered 210 to 245 trace their heritage to the former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway, which was integrated into the MBTA system in 1968. These lines initially linked to but were redirected to newer rapid transit stations such as following the extension of the Red Line’s Braintree Branch during the 1970s and 1980s.
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"220"
"220"
350–354
These routes operate in Burlington and Woburn, stemming from the Lowell–Boston line of the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway, which was fully acquired by the MBTA in 1968 and subsequently shortened to terminate at Burlington.
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Operating within Lynn and the North Shore area, these routes include former Service Bus Lines (such as 411 and 430) acquired in 1975, along with mainly Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines absorbed in 1968. Weekend short-turn services (denoted with W) terminate at Wonderland station on two routes serving Haymarket.
501–558
These express services provide a link between Newton and downtown Boston utilizing the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). Established in the 1960s to capitalize on the turnpike's extension, the 500 series comprises routes initially operated by the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway, which were incorporated into the MBTA system in 1972 and partially truncated to Newton Corner in 2020.
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The MBTA offers partial funding for suburban routes outside its primary service zone that link with MBTA transit. The radial commuter routes numbered 712-716 were acquired from private companies such as Rapid Transit Inc. (routes 712/713), Nantasket Transportation (714), and Hudson Bus Lines (716).
Routes without numbers function as local circulators initiated by municipalities with some MBTA financial support. Except for the Beverly Shuttle, which is overseen by the Cape Ann Transportation Authority, all are privately run under contract.
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