Bus system serving the Boston metropolitan area
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Bus System| Company type | 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 region |
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| Products | Bus services, including local routes, express routes, Silver Line BRT |
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| Owner | Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |
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| Website | www.mbta.com/bus |
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The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) bus system manages 151 routes throughout the Boston metropolitan region, all of which connect with MBTA subway lines, Commuter Rail services, or other bus routes. Of these, 147 routes are operated directly by the MBTA, while four are run under contract by private operators. Furthermore, four suburban bus services receive partial financial support from the MBTA.
The majority of buses charge a local fare of $1.70 as of 2024, whereas the Silver Line waterfront routes (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW) apply the standard subway fare of $2.40. Express buses feature a dual fare structure: a local segment charged at the local fare and an express highway segment costing $4.25.
Service levels were significantly impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic but were mostly reinstated by 2021, with some routes permanently discontinued. Since 2018, the MBTA has been engaged in an extensive bus network redesign scheduled for completion by 2028, with initial modifications commencing in December 2024.
Silver Line
The Silver Line represents a six-route bus rapid transit (BRT) network promoted as rapid transit. It comprises two main branches: the Waterfront service (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW), which operates through the South Boston Transitway tunnel, and the Washington Street service (SL4, SL5), which runs along surface streets. Waterfront routes utilize subway fare pricing; in contrast, Washington Street routes apply standard bus fares. All Silver Line buses are articulated 60-foot vehicles; those on the Waterfront routes are hybrid models equipped with extended battery capacity to enable electric operation within tunnels.
The SL5 began service in 2002 as a replacement for the Washington Street Elevated line. The Shuttle service was introduced in 2004, followed later that year by SL2 and SL3. The SL1 route started in 2005 using dual-mode buses. In 2009, SL4 was launched after plans for Phase III tunnel construction were abandoned. A new SL3 extension to Chelsea commenced operations in 2018.
Crosstown
Two crosstown (CT) routes provide limited-stop connections between key subway stations and bus transfer points. Initially launched with three routes in 1994 by the MBTA, route CT1 was merged into route 1 in 2019.
Routes 1–121
These routes encompass nearly all local service within Boston’s core metropolitan area; most originated as streetcar lines operated by the Boston Elevated Railway. Originally numbered in a clockwise manner from southeast to northeast, this network has remained mostly consistent since the BERy era despite some merges and additions during Metropolitan Transit Authority and MBTA oversight.
Seven specific routes – , , , , , , and – serve western suburbs including Bedford, Waltham, Lexington, and Needham. These lines trace their origins to former Middlesex and Boston Street Railway routes acquired in 1972 and were assigned numbers previously unused.
In 2004, fourteen routes – including , , , , , , , , , , , , , and – were designated as key bus routes due to their high ridership levels. These lines provide frequent service complementing subway access to Boston’s most densely populated neighborhoods. Beginning in 2024, the MBTA is transitioning away from "key bus route" terminology toward a broader frequent route network classification. Routes 28 and 39 operate using articulated buses measuring 60 feet.
Additionally, four early morning round trips operate between outlying stations and over sections of several local routes. Primarily intended for station agents but available to all riders, these trips are internally numbered 191–194 and appear as variants of local routes in published schedules.
131–137
Routes numbered 131 through 137 primarily cover the Melrose region, tracing their origins to former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that were incorporated into the MBTA system in 1968. Among these, routes 136 and 137, now discontinued, once extended service to their original endpoints in Lowell and Lawrence. Route 132 was initially operated by Service Bus Lines before its integration into the MBTA network in 1975.
171
Route 171 functions as a limited early morning substitute for the CT3 service, which was truncated from Logan Airport in 2002. Other routes in the 170 series were short-term industrial shuttle services.
201–202
The original 20 belt route, established by the M.T.A. in 1962 from BERy’s former routes 20 and 21, was redesignated in 2005 as routes 201 and 202 to distinguish the loop directions more clearly.
210–245
Routes between 210 and 245 serve the Quincy, Massachusetts area, originally part of the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway network absorbed by the MBTA in 1968. Following the gradual launch of the Red Line’s Braintree Branch during the 1970s and 1980s, these bus routes were adjusted to terminate at rapid transit stations such as .
350–354
These routes operate within the Burlington and Woburn regions, originating from the Lowell–Boston line of the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway. This line was acquired by the MBTA in 1968 and subsequently shortened to terminate at Burlington.
411–465
Serving Lynn and the North Shore area, these routes include former Service Bus Lines routes (411, 430) obtained in 1975, along with primarily Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines acquired in 1968. Some Haymarket routes feature weekend short-turn versions (indicated by a W suffix) that end at Wonderland.
501–558
The 500 series consists of express routes connecting Newton and downtown Boston via the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). These routes were established by the MBTA during the 1960s to utilize the turnpike extension into Boston. The 550 series originated from Middlesex and Boston Street Railway lines serving Newton Corner, extended downtown during the 1960s, and were absorbed by MBTA in 1972. In 2020, these services were truncated back to Newton Corner.
Privately operated routes
Certain suburban routes beyond the MBTA's central service area receive partial subsidies and provide connections to MBTA lines. The radial commuter routes numbered 712 through 716 were originally operated by private companies and later acquired by the MBTA—specifically, Rapid Transit Inc. managed routes 712 and 713, Nantasket Transportation handled route 714, and Hudson Bus Lines operated route 716.
Local circulator services without route numbers have been established by local municipalities and receive some funding from the MBTA. Except for the Beverly Shuttle, which is managed by the Cape Ann Transportation Authority, all these services are run by private contractors.
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