78 (MBTA bus)

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Bus Division

Company type	Public transportation agency division
Industry	Public transport
Headquarters	Boston , United States
Area served	Boston metropolitan region
Products	Bus services, including local routes, Silver Line BRT, express buses
Owner	Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Parent	Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Website	mbta.com/bus

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) bus division manages 151 routes throughout the Boston metropolitan region, integrating with MBTA subway lines, Commuter Rail, and various other bus networks. Of these routes, 147 are operated directly by the MBTA, while four are run under contracts with private operators. Moreover, four suburban services receive partial financial support from the MBTA.

As of 2024, the fare for local bus rides is $1.70 per trip, whereas the Silver Line’s waterfront routes (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW) require the subway fare of $2.40. Express buses charge a premium fare of $4.25 for travel on highway segments, with local portions charged at the standard bus rate.

Although service was interrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic, it returned to pre-pandemic levels by 2021; however, some routes remain temporarily inactive. Beginning in 2018, the MBTA initiated an extensive bus network redesign expected to be completed by 2028, with initial modifications rolling out in December 2024.

Silver Line

The Silver Line consists of six bus rapid transit routes branded as rapid transit services. It is divided into two segments: the Waterfront branch (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW), which operates through the South Boston Transitway tunnel and charges subway fares; and the Washington Street branch (SL4, SL5), running on surface streets and charging standard bus fares. All Silver Line vehicles are articulated 60-foot buses; those on Waterfront routes are hybrids capable of extended electric operation within tunnels.

SL5 began service in 2002 as a replacement for the Washington Street Elevated; the Shuttle started in 2004; SL2 and the original SL3 also launched in 2004; SL1 commenced in 2005 using dual-mode buses; SL4 was introduced in 2009 following cancellation of a planned tunnel extension; and a new SL3 route extending to Chelsea opened in 2018.

Route	Description	MBTA link
SL1	Logan Airport terminals– REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
SL2	Drydock Avenue– REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
SL3	REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system – REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
SLW	REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system – REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
SL4	REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system –South Station	Template:MBTA bus EL
SL5	REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system – REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system (Temple Place)	Template:MBTA bus EL

Crosstown

The MBTA operates two crosstown (CT) routes providing limited-stop connections between key subway stations and major bus transfer hubs. Initially launched with three routes in 1994, route CT1 was merged into route 1 in 2019.

Route	Description	MBTA link
CT2	REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system – REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
CT3	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center– REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL

Routes 1–121

These lines constitute the majority of local service within Boston’s core metropolitan area; many originated as streetcar lines operated by the Boston Elevated Railway. The numbering system is generally arranged clockwise from southeast to northeast and has remained mostly stable since the BERy era despite some consolidations and additions during Metropolitan Transit Authority and MBTA administrations.

Seven routes— , , , , , , and —serve western suburbs such as Bedford, Waltham, Lexington, and Needham. These lines descend from Middlesex and Boston Street Railway services acquired in 1972 and were renumbered using previously unused designations.

In 2004, fourteen routes—including , , , and —were classified as key bus routes due to their high ridership. These lines complement subway service by offering frequent trips through densely populated urban corridors. The MBTA’s ongoing Bus Network Redesign in 2024 is phasing out this classification in favor of an expanded frequent route network. Notably, routes 28 and 39 utilize articulated buses measuring 60 feet in length.

Additionally, four early morning round trips operate between suburban stations and , mainly intended for station staff but accessible to all passengers. Internally numbered 191–194, these trips appear as variants of local routes in schedules.

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Route	Description	MBTA link
1	Harvard Square– REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
4	REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system –Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park	Template:MBTA bus EL

131–137

Routes numbered 131 through 137 provide service within the Melrose vicinity, tracing their origins to former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that were incorporated into the MBTA system in 1968. Routes 136 and 137, which have since been discontinued, once extended further to Lowell and Lawrence, respectively, marking their original endpoints. Additionally, route 132 was integrated into the MBTA network after being acquired from Service Bus Lines in 1975.

Route	Description	MBTA link
131	Service between Melrose Highlands and either REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system or REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
132	Connecting Redstone Shopping Center with REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
134	Route from North Woburn to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
137	Linking Reading Depot and REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL

171

Route 171 operates as a limited service substitute for early morning CT3 trips following the removal of its Logan Airport extension in 2002. Most other routes in the 170 series were short-term industrial shuttle services.

Route	Description	MBTA link
171	Connecting Logan Airport terminals with REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL

201–202

The original 20 belt route, created in 1962 from the remnants of BERY’s routes 20 and 21, was rebranded as routes 201 and 202 in 2005 to better distinguish the directional loops around Fields Corner.

Route	Description	MBTA link
201	Fields Corner loop traveling via Neponset Avenue	Template:MBTA bus EL
202	Fields Corner loop running through Adams Street	Template:MBTA bus EL

210–245

The routes numbered from 210 to 245 primarily serve the Quincy region. These lines originated from Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway routes that joined the MBTA in 1968. Adjustments to these services occurred following the staged introduction of the Red Line’s Braintree Branch during the 1970s and 1980s, resulting in route endpoints shifting to rapid transit stations such as .

Route	Description	MBTA link
210	Between REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system and REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
211	Linking REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system with Squantum	Template:MBTA bus EL
215	Via West Quincy: connects REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
216	'From Houghs Neck to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system passing through Germantown'	Template:MBTA bus EL
217	'Service between REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system and REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system '	Template:MBTA bus EL
220	Runs from Hingham, Massachusetts#Hingham Depot to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
222	Connects Weymouth, Massachusetts#East Weymouth with REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
225	Route between Weymouth Landing/East Braintree station and REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
226	Service linking Weymouth, Massachusetts#Columbian Square and Braintree station (MBTA)	Template:MBTA bus EL
230	Connecting Montello station with REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
236	Runs between South Shore Plaza and REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
238	Route from Holbrook/Randolph station to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
240	Service connecting Avon, Massachusetts#Avon Square with REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
245	Linking REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system and REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL

350–354

These lines operate within the Burlington and Woburn regions, originally part of the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway's Lowell–Boston corridor. The MBTA took over these routes in 1968, subsequently shortening service to terminate at Burlington.

Route	Description	MBTA link
350	Alewife station–North Burlington	Template:MBTA bus EL
351	Third Avenue–Bedford Woods Drive	Template:MBTA bus EL
354	State Street, Boston–North Burlington	Template:MBTA bus EL

411–465

Serving the Lynn vicinity and the North Shore, these routes comprise former Service Bus Lines services (routes 411 and 430, acquired in 1975) as well as Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines (acquired in 1968). Weekend short-turn versions of Haymarket routes, denoted with a W suffix, conclude at Wonderland station.

Route	Description	MBTA link
411	Malden Center station–Kennedy Drive or Jack Satter House	Template:MBTA bus EL
424	Wonderland station–Eastern Avenue & Essex Street	Template:MBTA bus EL
426	Haymarket station–Central Square, Lynn	Template:MBTA bus EL
426W	Wonderland station–Central Square, Lynn (short-turn weekend service)	Template:MBTA bus EL
428	Haymarket station–Oaklandvale	Template:MBTA bus EL
429	Central Square, Lynn–Northgate Shopping Center	Template:MBTA bus EL
430	Malden Center station–Saugus Center	Template:MBTA bus EL
435	Central Square, Lynn via Peabody Square–Salem Depot	Template:MBTA bus EL
436	"Liberty Tree Mall" to Central Square, Lynn via Goodwin Circle	Template:MBTA bus EL
439	Nahant to Wonderland station	Template:MBTA bus EL
441	Marblehead to Wonderland station via Paradise Road (Route 1A)	Template:MBTA bus EL
442	Marblehead to Wonderland station via Humphrey Street	Template:MBTA bus EL
450	Haymarket station–Salem Depot	Template:MBTA bus EL
450W	Wonderland station–Salem Depot (weekend short-turn)	Template:MBTA bus EL
451	Salem Depot–North Beverly station	Template:MBTA bus EL
455	Wonderland station–Salem Depot	Template:MBTA bus EL
456	Central Square, Lynn–Salem Depot	Template:MBTA bus EL

501–558

The 500-series express buses provide service between Newton and downtown Boston utilizing the Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90). Established in the 1960s to capitalize on the turnpike's extension, these routes incorporate former Middlesex and Boston Street Railway lines (specifically the 550 series) that ran to Newton Corner. These routes were extended into downtown Boston during the 1960s and became part of the MBTA network in 1972. However, in 2020, service was truncated back to Newton Corner.

Route	Description	MBTA link
Template:MBTABus	From Brighton Center to Federal Street & Franklin Street	Template:MBTA bus EL
Template:MBTABus	Connecting REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system with Federal Street & Franklin Street	Template:MBTA bus EL
505	Route from Waltham Center to Federal Street & Franklin Street	Template:MBTA bus EL
553	Linking Roberts and REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
554	Service between Waverley Square and REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
556	Connecting Waltham Highlands with REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL
558	From Riverside station to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL

Privately operated routes

Certain suburban routes beyond the MBTA's central region receive partial funding from the authority and serve as feeder lines to MBTA transit. The radial commuter services numbered 712 through 716 were originally operated by private companies—Rapid Transit Inc. managed routes 712 and 713, Nantasket Transportation ran 714, and Hudson Bus Lines operated 716—before being integrated.

Unnumbered local circulator services are typically initiated by municipalities with some MBTA financial support. These are mostly managed by private contractors except for the Beverly Shuttle, which is operated by the Cape Ann Transportation Authority.

Route	Description	MBTA link	Operator
Template:MBTABus	Point Shirley, Winthrop to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system via Revere Street	Template:MBTA bus EL	Paul Revere Transportation
Template:MBTABus	(Point Shirley), Winthrop to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system through Winthrop Center	Template:MBTA bus EL
714	(Pemberton Point), Hull to Station Street, Hingham	Template:MBTA bus EL	DPV Transportation
716	(Cobbs Corner) to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	(DPV Transportation)

Route	Description	MBTA link	Operator
'BED'	Bedford Local Transit	Link	Town of Bedford
'BEV'	City of Beverly Shuttle	[1]	CATA
'LEX'	Lexington Lexpress (four routes)	[2]	Town of Lexington
'MIS'	Mission Hill LINK	[3]	Volunteers

External links

• MBTA – Bus timetables and route maps