77A (MBTA bus)

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)

Company type	Public agency
Industry	Public transportation
Founded	August 1, 1964 (1964-08-01)
Headquarters	Boston, Massachusetts , United States
Area served	Greater Boston area
Products	Bus, subway, commuter rail, ferry services
Website	www.mbta.com

Primary bus routes within the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) network consisted of 15 corridors identified in the 2004 MBTA Service Policy for their elevated ridership levels and frequency benchmarks. Collectively, these routes represented roughly 40% of the MBTA's overall bus patronage. They served crucial roles by covering Boston's most densely populated neighborhoods and linking with other MBTA transit modes, thereby enhancing regional connectivity.

Designated as integral components of the MBTA's foundational transit offerings, these primary bus routes were prominently displayed on updated system maps found in subway stations and public locations, alongside rapid transit rail, bus rapid transit lines, and commuter rail services. They received priority attention for service enhancements—including pilot programs for late-night operations—and have been focal points in urban planning and transportation engineering research. With the implementation of the 2024 Bus Network Redesign, this primary route classification is being phased out in favor of a more extensive high-frequency route framework.

History

In November 2006, the MBTA commenced initiatives aimed at improving service quality on its primary bus corridors. The 2008 Service Plan recommended several enhancements, notably promoting Route 31 to meet primary route criteria. Subsequently, a $10 million Key Routes Improvement Project was launched with funding support from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Initially incorporating Silver Line services, these were later separated into their own management structure. The project wrapped up in 2013, though some planned upgrades remained incomplete. By June 2017, service reliability was measured at 75% on primary routes compared to 61% on other bus lines.

An evaluation conducted in 2012 revealed that proximity to these primary corridors correlated with a decrease in taxi trip generation, suggesting that high-frequency bus routes effectively competed with taxis among riders with alternative options.

In April 2014, an extended late-night service trial was introduced on selected primary bus and rapid transit lines for one year, contingent upon ridership levels and sponsorship funding. By April 2015, this late-night service was curtailed, resulting in five primary routes losing extended hours; all late-night operations were discontinued by March 2016.

Primary bus routes were featured prominently within Boston Mayor Marty Walsh’s "Go Boston 2030" plan, which aimed to ensure that every household was located within a ten-minute walk of either a T station or a primary route stop. The plan also proposed a new primary corridor linking the Longwood Medical Area to JFK/UMass via Roxbury.

In May 2022, the MBTA unveiled a draft Bus Network Redesign proposal that suggested modifications to many existing primary routes while elevating additional lines to form an expanded high-frequency network complementing rapid transit services. A revised version of this plan was released in November 2022.

Criteria for Primary Routes

According to the MBTA’s Service Delivery Policy, five factors determine designation as a Primary Bus Route:

• Elevated ridership demand
• Integration within the transit system
• Geographic coverage
• Support for significant new developments
• Operation as bus rapid transit

Service Standards

Primary routes are required to adhere to stricter standards regarding service span and frequency compared to typical local routes. The following tables outline these minimum requirements:

Route Type	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 Type	Minimum Frequency of Service
Local	Peak Hours (AM & PM)	Every 30 minutes
	Off-Peak Hours	Every 60 minutes
	Weekends (Sat & Sun)	Every 60 minutes
Primary	Peak Hours (AM & PM)	Every 10 minutes
	Midday Periods	Every 15 minutes
	Evenings & Weekends	Every 20 minutes

Route list

The MBTA has designated 15 principal bus routes: 1, 15, 22, 23, 28, 32, 39, 57, 66, 71, 73, 77, 111, 116, and 117. These corridors have been prioritized for enhancements and public appeals for limited-stop or express options to improve service efficiency and accommodate heavy ridership.

1

The 1 Harvard Square–Nubian Station route links Cambridge with Roxbury. It originated in September 1962 through the consolidation of two lines: route 76 Harvard–Massachusetts station and the 47 Massachusetts station–Dudley. In May 1987, the alignment shifted from Washington Street to Albany Street and Melnea Cass Boulevard to provide access to Boston Medical Center. The corridor predominantly follows Massachusetts Avenue, beginning at Harvard, passing the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, crossing the Charles River via the Harvard Bridge, proceeding through Boston past the Berklee College of Music to Boston Medical Center, then heading southwest toward Nubian station along Albany Street and Melnea Cass Boulevard.

In 2015, Cambridge planned to implement signal priority at selected intersections along this route. The May and November 2022 network proposals did not suggest any alterations to this service.

Transit advocacy organization Transitmatters identified the 1 bus as both the slowest and most prone to bus bunching within the MBTA system, recording an average speed of 6.55 mph and a bunching rate of 17.7% as of October 2023.

15

The 15 Fields Corner Station or St. Peter's Square–Ruggles Station line operates from St. Peter's Square in northern Dorchester northward along Bowdoin Street, westward on Hancock Street, then north on Columbia Street reaching Uphams Corner. It continues west on Dudley Street to Nubian station, proceeds west along Malcolm X Boulevard, and then heads north on Tremont Street terminating at Ruggles station. Evening and weekend services conclude at Fields Corner station, traveling via Geneva Avenue and Bowdoin Street back to St. Peter's Square.

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

The May 2022 draft network suggested extending this line westward to Oak Square, replacing route , thus creating an Oak Square–Fields Corner connection. However, the November 2022 revision rolled back this extension to terminate at Ruggles again while maintaining route 65 as a separate service.

22

The 22 Ashmont Station–Ruggles Station via Talbot Ave runs northwest from Ashmont toward the former location of Egleston station, then proceeds north along Columbus Avenue and Tremont Street, paralleling the Orange Line before ending at Ruggles.

Originally replacing trackless trolleys on April 6, 1962, it operated as route 22 Ashmont–Dudley via Talbot and Warren with its terminus at . The line was extended to Ruggles in May 1987 concurrent with the Orange Line’s relocation. Both the May and November 2022 network proposals recommended adjusting its inner terminal to serve the Longwood Medical Area instead.

23

The 23 Ashmont Station–Ruggles Station via Washington Street route shares the same termini as the 22 but follows an alternate course. Departing from Ashmont, it travels along Talbot Avenue before heading north on Washington Street. The route then continues onto Warren Street leading to Nubian station. From Nubian, the bus proceeds westward along Malcolm X Boulevard to reach Roxbury Crossing, then heads north on Tremont Street to arrive at Ruggles station.

This line transitioned from trackless trolley service to buses on April 7, 1962, initially operating as 22 Ashmont–Dudley via Washington Street and Warren. In May 1987, the route was extended to Ruggles concurrently with the Orange Line relocation.

A 2017 analysis highlighted overcrowding concerns on routes 23 and 28, suggesting extensions and increased frequency for route 29 as a remedy. Between March 1, 2022, and February 28, 2026, a city-funded fare-free initiative covers routes 23, 28, and 29. No modifications were recommended for this line in either the May or November 2022 service network proposals.

28

The 28 Mattapan Station–Ruggles Station corridor serves the neighborhoods of Grove Hall and Mattapan along Blue Hill Avenue, a significant arterial thoroughfare. Historically, Blue Hill Avenue was a heavily trafficked transit route; in 1945, route 29 Mattapan–Egleston operated with headways as short as 1.5 minutes during morning peak periods. Streetcars ran on an exclusive right-of-way until buses replaced them in 1955. Route 28 was introduced in May 1987 to complement route 29 and became the primary service by December 1989. Some stops received shelters in 2001. Between December 2006 and June 2010, peak short-turn trips ran as route 25.

The 2003 Program for Mass Transportation (PMT) included proposals for several Silver Line expansions, among them a bus rapid transit (BRT) overlay on route 28 as part of Silver Line Phase III efforts. In 2009, the state put forward the 28X, a limited-stop BRT line along this corridor—then recognized as New England’s busiest bus route—featuring dedicated lanes and queue jumps at an anticipated cost of $114 million. Construction was planned for April 2010 with service launch targeted for early 2012.

Community resistance arose due to insufficient local engagement, removal of parking spaces and medians, and extended construction impacts. Consequently, the state retracted the proposal by late 2009. In June 2010, MBTA introduced articulated 60-foot buses on route 28 to boost capacity, prompting concerns from residents about stop eliminations in the hilly Grove Hall area. The 2012 Roxbury–Dorchester–Mattapan Transit Needs Study recommended implementing the express-style service envisioned by the 28X without new infrastructure investments.

In August 2020, MBTA and Boston jointly sought $15 million in federal funds for a $30 million Blue Hill Avenue improvement project including center-running bus lanes, aiming for completion by year-end 2021; however, this request was denied in September. A subsequent $25 million application was submitted in July 2021. A city-funded pilot program provided fare-free rides and all-door boarding on route 28 from August 2021 through February 2022 to accelerate travel times. Following this pilot, fare-free service on routes 23, 28, and 29 was extended through February 2026. In November 2021, Boston secured a $15 million federal grant toward a $39.5 million Blue Hill Avenue reconstruction effort.

The May and November 2022 network redesigns proposed extending route 28 beyond Roxbury Crossing to , passing through Longwood Medical Area while discontinuing service between Roxbury Crossing and Ruggles. In February 2024, Boston announced plans for a $44 million Blue Hill Avenue reconstruction featuring center bus lanes, with construction anticipated to commence 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. Its entire path runs adjacent to the commuter rail tracks.

Originally, until 1953, Route 32 functioned as a comprehensive trolley service between Forest Hills and Cleary Square before transitioning to trackless trolley operation. By 1958, trackless trolley service south of Forest Hills was discontinued and replaced by diesel-powered buses. A remaining turnaround loop for trackless trolleys is still located at the intersection of Hyde Park Avenue and Pine Street.

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

39

The 39 Forest Hills Station–Back Bay Station route took over the Green Line E branch’s service between Heath Street and Arborway starting in December 1985. It parallels the Green Line from Heath Street to Copley Station and provides connections to both the Orange Line and commuter rail at its endpoints, including Amtrak services at Back Bay.

Route 39 was notable as the first MBTA line to routinely deploy articulated buses, a practice later adopted by other routes such as the 28 in late 2005. By 2013, it ranked as Boston’s second busiest bus route. This substantial ridership 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 , substituting segments of routes , , and , while eliminating service between Longwood Avenue and Back Bay. However, the November 2022 revision restored Route 39 to its prior routing, with an increased frequency on Route 47 extended to Union Square.

57

The 57 Watertown Yard–Kenmore Station route services Boston, Newton, and Watertown areas. It replaced the Green Line A branch after its discontinuation in 1969. Historically, Route 57 provided limited-stop service within Boston—specifically no passenger pickups on Commonwealth Avenue between Packard's Corner and Kenmore—but this practice ceased in December 2006. No alterations were suggested for this route in either the May or November 2022 network plans.

66

The 66 Harvard Square–Nubian Station via Allston line, which previously operated as a trolley, begins at Nubian Square in Roxbury before crossing Southwest Corridor Park at Roxbury Crossing. It briefly overlaps with Route 39 and the Green Line E branch between Brigham Circle and Boston’s city boundary. Traveling along Harvard Street, it serves Brookline and Allston neighborhoods, detouring through Union Square in Allston before continuing via Cambridge Street and North Harvard Street to end at Harvard Square in Cambridge. This route connects several transit lines including the Silver Line at Nubian station, Orange Line at Roxbury Crossing, multiple Green Line branches (E, D, C, B), and Red Line at Harvard. The May and November 2022 network proposals did not recommend any changes. In August 2024, northbound trips were rerouted through the Harvard Bus Tunnel.

71

The 71 Watertown Square–Harvard station route originates at the lower level of the Harvard bus tunnel, heads south onto Mount Auburn Street, then continues westward into Watertown, concluding its journey at Watertown Square.

At Harvard, buses execute a turnaround by exiting the tunnel and circling via Massachusetts Avenue, Garden Street, and Waterhouse Street before heading back. On the Watertown side, a dedicated right-of-way loop facilitates bus turnarounds and passenger boarding.

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

Together with other routes, the 71 and 73 maintained trackless trolley service well beyond the discontinuation of other MBTA trolleybus lines, representing one of Boston’s final trolleybus systems. They transitioned to diesel-powered buses in March 2022. While no modifications were proposed for this route in the 2022 network redesigns, Watertown plans a minor extension to Watertown Yard as part of the redevelopment of Watertown Square.

73

The 73 Waverley Square–Harvard Station route begins within the Harvard bus tunnel and shares Mount Auburn Street with route 71 through Cambridge and Watertown. It then proceeds along Belmont Street—running along the boundary between Belmont and Watertown—before following Trapelo Road to its terminus at Waverley Square. The route completes its loop near the Waverley commuter rail station on the Fitchburg Line.

Initially served by streetcars until the mid-20th century, trackless trolleys began providing short-turn service in 1957 and fully replaced streetcars on route 73 in 1958. This mode of operation continued until March 13, 2022. The May and November 2022 MBTA network proposals did not suggest any alterations for this line.

77

The 77 Arlington Heights–Harvard Station route runs between Arlington and Harvard station along Massachusetts Avenue. Prior to the Red Line Northwest Extension during the 1980s, routes 77 and 77A were the main transit options northwest of Harvard, with streetcar intervals under one minute during peak periods in 1945. Route 77 transitioned to diesel buses in 1955; meanwhile, route 77A converted to trolleybus operation in 1958 to reassign streetcars for the Green Line D branch conversion and to enhance automobile flow by removing boarding islands.

Route 77A provided all local stops south of the carhouse while route 77 operated as a limited-stop service; however, between 1998 and 2005, route 77 gradually absorbed the service area of route 77A, which was fully discontinued in 2022. In 2017, Arlington pursued private funding to introduce signal priority measures, queue jump lanes, and potential bus-only lanes along its segment. The May and November 2022 MBTA network plans did not propose any changes for this corridor.

111

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

Route 111 ranks among the MBTA’s busiest numbered bus lines, offering five-minute headways during peak hours. No adjustments were recommended for this route in either the May or November 2022 network proposals.

116/117

The 116 Wonderland Station–Maverick Station via Revere Street and 117 Wonderland Station–Maverick Station via Beach Street routes connected East Boston, Chelsea, and Revere. These two lines overlapped along most of their journey through East Boston and Revere, differing solely in the vicinity of Wonderland. According to the network proposals from May and November 2022, route 117 was planned for discontinuation, with the portion between Broadway and Wonderland station incorporated into an extension of route 116 to preserve essential service 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 major routes)
• Free public transport in Boston

External links

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