71 (MBTA bus)

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Primary Bus Routes

Company type	Public transit service category
Industry	Public transportation
Founded	2004
Headquarters	Boston , United States
Area served	Boston metropolitan area
Products	Bus transit services

Primary bus routes within the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) network were identified as the 15 lines characterized by elevated ridership and stricter frequency benchmarks according to the 2004 MBTA Service Policy. Collectively, these routes represented approximately 40% of the MBTA's overall bus passenger volume. They delivered frequent transit service throughout Boston’s most densely populated neighborhoods and facilitated connections to other MBTA modes for regional travel.

Designated as integral components of the MBTA's core service framework, these primary bus routes appeared on updated transit maps displayed in subway stations and public venues alongside rapid transit and commuter rail lines. Given their substantial passenger demand, these routes received priority for enhancements such as late-night service trials and became focal points in urban planning and transportation engineering research. With the implementation of the 2024 Bus Network Redesign, the "primary bus route" classification is being succeeded by a more extensive network of high-frequency routes.

History

The MBTA launched an initiative in November 2006 aimed at elevating service quality on primary bus routes. The 2008 Service Plan recommended improvements for multiple lines, including upgrading Route 31 to meet primary route criteria. A subsequent $10 million Key Routes Improvement Project, financed through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, followed. Although Silver Line services were initially incorporated, they were later administered separately. This project concluded in 2013 with some planned enhancements remaining incomplete; however, reliability on primary routes continued to surpass that of other lines (75% versus 61% schedule adherence as of June 2017).

A study conducted in 2012 revealed that proximity to primary bus routes correlated with a decrease in taxi trip generation, demonstrating that these high-frequency services effectively competed with taxi options.

In April 2014, an extended late-night service pilot was introduced on primary bus and rapid transit lines for one year, contingent upon ridership levels and sponsorship support. By April 2015, service hours were reduced and several extended services discontinued; ultimately, late-night operations ceased entirely in March 2016.

Primary bus routes featured prominently in Boston Mayor Marty Walsh’s "Go Boston 2030" plan, which sought to ensure every residence was within a ten-minute walk of either a T station or a primary route bus stop. A new primary route was proposed to connect the Longwood Medical Area with JFK/UMass station via Roxbury.

In May 2022, the MBTA unveiled a draft plan for a bus network redesign proposing modifications to most primary routes and elevating additional lines to establish a high-frequency network complementing rapid transit services. An updated version was released in November 2022.

Criteria for Primary Routes

The MBTA’s Service Delivery Policy identifies Primary Bus Routes based on five factors:

• Elevated ridership demand
• Integration within the system network
• Geographic coverage
• Facilitation of significant new development
• Operation as bus rapid transit

Service Standards

Primary routes are required to uphold enhanced service span and frequency standards that surpass those established for regular local routes.

Route Category	Minimum Service Span
Local	Weekdays	7:00 AM – 6:30 PM
	Saturdays	8:00 AM – 6:30 PM
	Sundays	10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Primary	Weekdays	6:00 AM – Midnight
	Saturdays	6:00 AM – Midnight
	Sundays	7:00 AM – Midnight

Route Category	Minimum Service Frequency
Local	Peak periods (AM & PM)	Every 30 minutes
	Off-peak times	Every 60 minutes
	Weekends (Saturday & Sunday)	Every 60 minutes
Primary	Peak periods (AM & PM)	Every 10 minutes
	Midday hours	Every 15 minutes
	Evenings and weekends	Every 20 minutes

Route list

The MBTA has pinpointed 15 principal routes: 1, 15, 22, 23, 28, 32, 39, 57, 66, 71, 73, 77, 111, 116, and 117. These corridors have drawn interest from both public officials and community members seeking limited-stop or express options to improve service efficiency and better accommodate ridership.

1

The 1 Harvard Square–Nubian Station line links Cambridge with Roxbury and originated in September 1962 by combining two separate routes that previously divided at Massachusetts Avenue (currently the Hynes Convention Center). In May 1987, the alignment shifted from Washington Street southeastward onto Albany Street and Melnea Cass Boulevard to provide access to Boston Medical Center. The route mainly follows Massachusetts Avenue from Harvard Square past MIT, crosses the Charles River via the Harvard Bridge into Boston, continues by Berklee College of Music to Boston Medical Center, then proceeds southwest along Albany Street and Melnea Cass Boulevard to Nubian Station.

By 2015, Cambridge intended to implement signal priority at selected intersections along route 1. No modifications were suggested for this route in either the May or November 2022 network proposals.

In October 2023, the transit advocacy organization Transitmatters identified the number 1 bus as the slowest and most prone to bunching within the MBTA system, recording an average speed of just 6.55 mph and a bunching rate of 17.7%, highlighting considerable operational challenges affecting passenger experience.

15

The 15 Fields Corner Station or St. Peter's Square–Ruggles Station route operates from St. Peter's Square in northern Dorchester, proceeding north on Bowdoin Street, turning west onto Hancock Street, then north on Columbia Street towards Uphams Corner. It continues west along Dudley Street to Nubian station, then follows Malcolm X Boulevard westward before heading north on Tremont Street to reach Ruggles station. During nights and weekends, service terminates at Fields Corner station, traveling via Geneva Avenue and Bowdoin Street back to St. Peter's Square.

This corridor transitioned from trackless trolleys to buses on April 6, 1962. Following the Orange Line’s relocation to the Southwest Corridor in May 1987, the route was extended to Ruggles. On August 25, 2024, Kane Square service was slightly lengthened to reach St. Peter's Square.

The draft network plan released in May 2022 proposed extending this line westward to Oak Square, effectively replacing route , thereby creating a direct Oak Square–Fields Corner connection. However, the November 2022 draft reverted this change by restoring the route’s terminus at Ruggles and maintaining route 65 as a separate service.

22

The 22 Ashmont Station–Ruggles Station via Talbot Ave travels from Ashmont northwest toward the former location of Egleston station, then heads north along Columbus Avenue and Tremont Street following the Orange Line corridor until reaching Ruggles.

This route replaced trackless trolleys on April 6, 1962. Initially designated as the 22 Ashmont–Dudley via Talbot and Warren line, it extended further north along Warren Street to . The relocation of the Orange Line in May 1987 led to its extension up to Ruggles. Both the May and November 2022 network drafts suggested moving the inner terminal to the Longwood Medical Area.

23

The 23 Ashmont Station–Ruggles Station via Washington Street route shares its terminal points with route 22 but follows an alternate course. Beginning at Ashmont on Talbot Avenue, it heads north along Washington Street, then continues onto Warren Street reaching Nubian station. From Nubian, the route moves westward on Malcolm X Boulevard to Roxbury Crossing, then turns north along Tremont Street to arrive at Ruggles station.

Trackless trolleys were replaced by buses on this line as of April 7, 1962. The route was extended to Ruggles in May 1987, coinciding with the Orange Line relocation.

A study conducted in 2017 highlighted overcrowding issues on routes 23 and 28, suggesting an increase in frequency and an extension of route 29 to alleviate congestion. A city-funded fare-free initiative covers routes 23, 28, and 29 from March 1, 2022, through February 28, 2026. No modifications to this route were proposed in the network plans released in May or November of 2022.

28

The 28 Mattapan Station–Ruggles Station line connects the neighborhoods of Grove Hall and Mattapan via Blue Hill Avenue, a key arterial road. Historically, Blue Hill Avenue was a heavily trafficked transit corridor; for example, in 1945, route 29 Mattapan–Egleston operated at intervals as short as 1.5 minutes during morning peak hours. Originally served by streetcars running on a dedicated right-of-way, buses replaced these vehicles by 1955. Route 28 was launched in May 1987 to complement route 29 and became the main service on Blue Hill Avenue by December 1989, while route 29 was limited to rush-hour trips terminating at Jackson Square. Some stops along this route were equipped with shelters in 2001. Between December 2006 and June 2010, morning peak short-turn trips between Franklin Park and Dudley (later Ruggles) operated under route number 25.

The 2003 Program for Mass Transportation (PMT) explored various expansions of the Silver Line, including a bus rapid transit (BRT) overlay for route 28 briefly reconsidered in the Silver Line Phase III plans of 2006. In 2009, state officials proposed the 28X, a limited-stop BRT service along this corridor—then the busiest bus corridor in New England—with dedicated lanes and queue jump lanes. The $114 million project targeted construction commencement in April 2010 and anticipated service launch by early 2012.

Local opposition emerged due to concerns over insufficient community engagement, potential loss of parking spaces, removal of medians, and extended construction impacts along Blue Hill Avenue. As a result, the state canceled the plan late in 2009. In June 2010, the MBTA introduced articulated buses measuring 60 feet to increase capacity; however, some Grove Hall residents opposed stop eliminations required for these longer vehicles. The Roxbury–Dorchester–Mattapan Transit Needs Study from 2012 recommended implementing the proposed express bus service (28X) without additional infrastructure investments.

In August 2020, the MBTA and City of Boston applied for $15 million in federal funding toward a $30 million Blue Hill Avenue project that included center-running bus lanes with a goal of completion by the end of 2021; this funding request was denied in September. A second application for $25 million was submitted in July 2021. From August 2021 through February 2022, a city-sponsored pilot program offered fare-free rides and all-door boarding on route 28 to reduce travel delays on this frequently congested corridor. Following this pilot, fare-free service on routes 23, 28, and 29 was extended from March 2022 through February 2026. In November 2021, Boston secured $15 million in federal grants toward the $39.5 million Blue Hill Avenue reconstruction project.

The network plans released in May and November of 2022 proposed extending route 28 beyond Roxbury Crossing to reach via Longwood Medical Area while discontinuing service between Roxbury Crossing and Ruggles. In February 2024, Boston announced a $44 million Blue Hill Avenue reconstruction project incorporating center bus lanes with construction scheduled to begin in 2026.

32

The 32 Wolcott or Cleary Square–Forest Hills Station line operates along Hyde Park Avenue, connecting Forest Hills to Readville and serving the neighborhoods of Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, and Hyde Park. Throughout its entire course, it runs alongside the commuter rail tracks.

Prior to 1953, Route 32 functioned as a full trolley service between Forest Hills and Cleary Square before transitioning to trackless trolley operation. In 1958, trackless trolley service south of Forest Hills was discontinued and replaced by diesel bus service. A turnaround loop for the trackless trolleys was situated at the intersection of Hyde Park Avenue and Pine Street.

In 1981, the former Route 31, which ran between Mattapan Square and Wolcott Square, was combined with Route 32 at Cleary Square, forming the Route 32 Forest Hills–Wolcott Square. Concurrently, Route 50 was rerouted to serve the Summer Street Elderly Housing area. The May and November 2022 network proposals did not suggest any modifications to Route 32.

39

The 39 Forest Hills Station–Back Bay Station route was introduced in December 1985, replacing Green Line E branch service between Heath Street and Arborway. It parallels the Green Line from Heath Street to Copley and provides connections to both the Orange Line and commuter rail at its endpoints, with Amtrak accessible at Back Bay.

Route 39 was a pioneer in the MBTA system for regularly utilizing articulated buses, a practice later adopted by other routes such as Route 28 in late 2005. By 2013, it ranked as Boston’s second busiest bus line. Its high passenger volume contributed to the expansion of Forest Hills station during the Casey Arborway redevelopment.

The draft network plan released in May 2022 proposed extending Route 39 through and via , replacing segments of routes , , and , while eliminating service between Longwood Avenue and Back Bay. However, the November 2022 plan restored Route 39 to its original alignment and introduced a more frequent Route 47 extension to Union Square.

57

The 57 Watertown Yard–Kenmore Station route serves the communities of Boston, Newton, and Watertown. It succeeded the Green Line A branch which ceased operations in 1969. Historically, Route 57 operated limited-stop service within Boston—prohibiting pickups on Commonwealth Avenue between Packard's Corner and Kenmore—but this practice ended in December 2006. The May and November 2022 network plans did not propose any alterations to this route.

66

The 66 Harvard Square–Nubian Station via Allston line, once operated as a trolley, originates at Nubian Square in Roxbury and crosses the Southwest Corridor Park near Roxbury Crossing. It briefly shares routing with Route 39 and the Green Line E branch from Brigham Circle up to Boston’s city boundary. Following Harvard Street, it passes through Brookline and Allston before diverting to Union Square (Allston), then continues along Cambridge Street and North Harvard Street to terminate at Harvard Square. This route links Nubian station (Silver Line) with Roxbury Crossing (Orange Line); Fenwood Road, Mission Park, and Riverway (Green Line E branch); Brookline Village (Green Line D branch); Coolidge Corner (Green Line C branch); Harvard Avenue (Green Line B branch); and Harvard (Red Line). No adjustments were recommended for this route in either May or November 2022 network drafts. In August 2024, northbound trips were redirected through the Harvard Bus Tunnel.

71

The 71 Watertown Square–Harvard station route originates at the lower level of the Harvard bus tunnel, then heads south onto Mount Auburn Street, continuing westward into Watertown where it concludes at Watertown Square.

At Harvard, the bus completes its turnaround by exiting the tunnel and navigating a sequence of turns along Massachusetts Avenue, Garden Street, and Waterhouse Street before re-entering the tunnel. In Watertown, a dedicated right-of-way loop facilitates both turnaround maneuvers and passenger boarding.

Streetcar operations on route 71 ceased on September 4, 1958, replaced by trackless trolley service until March 13, 2022. In 2017, routes 71 and 73 were chosen to participate in a bus rapid transit pilot initiative.

Alongside other routes, including and , routes 71 and 73 maintained trolleybus operations for many years after most Boston lines transitioned to diesel buses. The final conversion to diesel vehicles occurred in March 2022. The 2022 network proposals did not suggest any modifications for this route; however, Watertown is planning a minor extension toward Watertown Yard as part of redevelopment efforts in Watertown Square.

73

The 73 Waverley Square–Harvard Station commences service within the Harvard bus tunnel and shares the Mount Auburn Street corridor with route 71 through Cambridge and Watertown. It then diverges onto Belmont Street, which forms the boundary between Belmont and Watertown, proceeding along Trapelo Road in Belmont before terminating at Waverley Square. The route loops at the Waverley commuter rail station on the Fitchburg Line.

Initially operated by streetcars until the 1950s, route 73 transitioned entirely to trackless trolleys in 1958, maintaining this mode until March 13, 2022. No alterations were proposed for this line in either the May or November 2022 network updates.

77

The 77 Arlington Heights–Harvard Station line links Arlington with Harvard station via Massachusetts Avenue. Prior to the Red Line Northwest Extension during the 1980s, routes 77 and 77A served as the primary transit options northwest of Harvard, with combined streetcar frequencies reaching under one minute during peak periods in 1945. Route 77 converted to diesel buses in 1955; meanwhile, route 77A switched to trolleybus service in 1958 to free streetcars for the conversion of the Highland branch and to eliminate boarding islands for automobile traffic. Route 77A provided local stops south of the carhouse while route 77 operated limited-stop service; between 1998 and 2005, route 77 largely took over service from route 77A, which was discontinued in 2022. In 2017, Arlington pursued private funding for improvements such as signal priority, queue jumps, and potential bus lanes along its segment. No changes were proposed for this route in either the May or November 2022 network plans.

111

The 111 Woodlawn–Haymarket Station line connects downtown Boston with Chelsea via the Bill Russell Bridge and Tobin Bridge. Originally a streetcar line operated by the Boston Elevated Railway between Chelsea Square and Woodlawn, it was converted to bus service in October 1936. The route was extended to Haymarket in April 1975 following the closure of the Charlestown Elevated, with partial extensions beyond Woodlawn added in January 2001. Service beyond Woodlawn ended in September 2019; short-turn trips at Cary Square were replaced by Woodlawn trips as of December 2021.

Route 111 ranks among the MBTA's most frequent numbered bus lines, offering service every five minutes during peak hours. No modifications were suggested for this route in either May or November 2022 network proposals.

116/117

The 116 Wonderland Station–Maverick Station via Revere Street along with the 117 Wonderland Station–Maverick Station via Beach Street routes operated services through East Boston, Chelsea, and Revere. Both routes largely overlapped their paths across East Boston and Revere, differing solely in the vicinity of Wonderland. Plans released in May and November 2022 recommended eliminating route 117, with the portion between Broadway and Wonderland station being incorporated into an extended route featuring enhanced frequency. This adjustment was implemented on December 15, 2024.

See also

• List of MBTA bus routes
• MBTA crosstown bus routes
• MBTA Silver Line (previously included in key routes)
• Free public transport in Boston

External links

• MBTA – routes , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
• MBTA - Key Bus Route Improvement Program