The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) manages a bus network comprising 151 routes throughout the Boston metropolitan region. Every route offers connections to the MBTA subway system, commuter rail lines, or other bus services within the MBTA network. The majority of these routes trace their origins back to former streetcar lines operated by the Boston Elevated Railway or suburban transit firms such as the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway and Middlesex and Boston Street Railway. Out of the total, 147 routes are directly operated by the MBTA, while four are run by private contractors under agreement, and an additional four suburban routes receive partial financial support from the MBTA.
As of 2024, the standard fare for local bus trips is $1.70 one-way. Meanwhile, Silver Line routes serving the waterfront (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW) apply the subway fare of $2.40. Express buses feature a two-tier fare system: passengers pay the local bus rate for trips along local segments and $4.25 for travel on express highway portions.
Bus service experienced temporary cutbacks during the COVID-19 crisis but was mostly reinstated by 2021; however, some routes have been permanently discontinued. Since 2018, the MBTA has embarked on a comprehensive redesign of its bus network, with phased implementations beginning in December 2024 and full completion anticipated by 2028.
Silver Line
The Silver Line is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system consisting of six routes, designed to function as rapid transit. It operates two distinct branches: the Waterfront service (SL1, SL2, SL3, plus a rush-hour SLW shuttle) which utilizes the South Boston Transitway tunnel, and the Washington Street service (SL4 and SL5), which runs along surface streets. Waterfront services charge fares equivalent to subway rides, whereas Washington Street routes maintain standard bus fares. All Silver Line vehicles are articulated buses measuring 60 feet in length; those on Waterfront routes are hybrid models equipped with extended battery capacity to enable electric operation within tunnels.
The SL5 route replaced the Washington Street Elevated line in 2002. The SLW shuttle started operations in 2004, followed by SL2 and the original SL3 also that year; SL1 began service in 2005 with dual-mode buses capable of both electric and diesel propulsion. After plans for Phase III tunnel construction were canceled, SL4 was introduced in 2009. A new SL3 route extending to Chelsea commenced service in 2018.
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The MBTA operates two crosstown (CT) routes that provide limited-stop service linking key subway stations and major bus transfer hubs. Originally launched in 1994 with three crosstown routes, one of them—CT1—was merged into route 1 in 2019.
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These routes cover nearly all local transit within the metropolitan core, with most originally established as Boston Elevated Railway streetcar lines. Arranged approximately clockwise from the southeast to the northeast, the system has stayed mostly consistent since the BERy period, despite some route mergers and expansions during the M.T.A. and MBTA administrations.
Seven lines – , , , , , , and – provide service to western suburbs such as Bedford, Waltham, Lexington, and Needham. These routes originated from the acquisition of former Middlesex and Boston Street Railway lines in 1972 and were assigned previously retired numbers.
In 2004, fourteen routes – including , , , , , , , , , , , , , and – were identified as key bus routes. These highest-demand services complement the subway network by delivering frequent connections to Boston’s most densely populated neighborhoods. Beginning in 2024, the MBTA's Bus Network Redesign is eliminating the key bus route label in favor of a more inclusive frequent route system. Routes 28 and 39 utilize 60-foot articulated buses for their operations.
Four early-morning round trips link outlying stations to through various local routes. Designed mainly for station staff but accessible to all riders, these trips are internally numbered 191–194 but appear as route variants on official schedules.
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Routes numbered 131 through 137 serve the Melrose region and trace back to former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines incorporated into the MBTA in 1968. The now-defunct routes 136 and 137 once extended service to Lowell and Lawrence. Initially, route 132 was operated by Service Bus Lines until MBTA assumed control in 1975.
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Route 171 offers limited service as a substitute for early morning CT3 operations following its reduction in 2002 from Logan Airport. Other routes in the 170 series were brief industrial area shuttles.
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Originally established in 1962 by the M.T.A. from BERY's routes 20 and 21, the 20 belt route was renumbered in 2005 as routes 201 and 202 to better indicate the direction of each loop.
Routes numbered 210 through 245 primarily serve the Quincy, Massachusetts area and originated from former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that were incorporated into the MBTA in 1968. Following the introduction of the Red Line's Braintree Branch in the 1970s and 1980s, these routes were modified to end at rapid transit stations, predominantly .
Serving Burlington and Woburn, these routes trace back to the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway’s Lowell–Boston corridor, which the MBTA acquired in 1968 before scaling back service to Burlington.
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Operating within Lynn and the broader North Shore region, these routes include former Service Bus Lines routes (411, 430) acquired in 1975 as well as mainly Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines integrated in 1968. Weekend short-turn services designated with a W suffix conclude at Wonderland station.
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These routes serve the Lynn area and the North Shore region. The 411 and 430 lines were originally part of the Service Bus Lines network, which the MBTA took over in 1975, while other routes trace their origins to the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway acquisitions completed in 1968. Weekend versions of some routes, identified with a W suffix, conclude their trips at Wonderland station.
These express bus services link Newton, Massachusetts with downtown Boston by way of the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). The MBTA introduced the 500-series routes in the 1960s to capitalize on the newly extended turnpike. The 550-series originated from former Middlesex and Boston Street Railway lines serving Newton Corner, which were extended into downtown Boston during the 1960s and incorporated into MBTA operations in 1972; however, these were truncated back to Newton Corner as of 2020.
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Certain suburban routes outside the MBTA's primary service area receive partial funding from the MBTA and provide connections to its transit system. Routes numbered 712 through 716 are radial commuter lines that were acquired from private companies—specifically Rapid Transit Inc. for routes 712 and 713, Nantasket Transportation for route 714, and Hudson Bus Lines for route 716.
Unnumbered services function as local circulators initiated by municipalities and partially subsidized by the MBTA. Except for the Beverly Shuttle—which is managed by the Cape Ann Transportation Authority—all these routes are operated under contract by private firms.
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