Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Bus Division| Company type | Public transit agency division |
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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 transit services, including Silver Line bus rapid transit |
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| Parent | Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) |
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| Website | www.mbta.com/bus |
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The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) bus division manages 151 routes within the Boston metropolitan region. Every route provides connections to the MBTA subway system, Commuter Rail lines, or other MBTA bus services. A significant number of these routes have origins tracing back to former streetcar lines operated by the Boston Elevated Railway and suburban transit companies such as the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway and Middlesex and Boston Street Railway. The MBTA operates 147 of these routes directly, while four are run by private contractors. Additionally, four suburban bus services receive partial financial support from the MBTA.
The standard local fare for most bus trips is $1.70 one-way as of 2024. The Silver Line's waterfront services (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW) require the standard subway fare of $2.40. Express bus routes charge a split fare: a local segment at the regular local rate and an express highway segment costing $4.25 (2024 rates).
Bus service experienced interruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, with most routes restored to pre-pandemic levels by 2021; however, some remain suspended. Since 2018, the MBTA has been developing a comprehensive redesign of its bus network, with full implementation anticipated by 2028. The initial phase of this overhaul commenced in December 2024.
Silver Line
The Silver Line is a bus rapid transit system consisting of six routes, promoted as a form of rapid transit. It operates two main branches: the Waterfront service (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW shuttle), which runs through the South Boston Transitway tunnel, and the Washington Street service (SL4, SL5), which travels along surface streets on Washington Street. Waterfront routes apply subway fare pricing, whereas Washington Street routes use regular bus fares. All Silver Line vehicles are articulated buses measuring 60 feet in length; those serving the Waterfront are hybrid models equipped with extended battery capacity to allow electric operation within tunnels.
The SL5 route was introduced in 2002 as a replacement for the Washington Street Elevated line. The Shuttle service began operations in 2004, followed by both SL2 and the original SL3 in that same year; SL1 was added in 2005 utilizing dual-mode buses. The SL4 route started in 2009 after cancellation of the Phase III tunnel project. In 2018, a new SL3 route connecting Chelsea was launched.
Crosstown
The MBTA’s two crosstown (CT) routes provide limited-stop service linking key subway stations and major bus transfer hubs. Originally launched with three crosstown lines in 1994, route CT1 was merged into route 1 in 2019.
1–121
These routes encompass nearly all local transit within the metropolitan center, many of which trace their origins to Boston Elevated Railway streetcar lines. Organized approximately in a clockwise manner from the southeast to the northeast, this network has largely persisted since the BERy period, despite subsequent mergers and expansions under the Metropolitan Transit Authority and later the MBTA.
Seven routes—, , , , , , and —serve western suburban communities such as Bedford, Waltham, Lexington, and Needham. These lines descend from services acquired from the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway in 1972 and were assigned numbers previously retired.
In 2004, fourteen routes—including , , , , , , , , , , , , , and —were identified as key bus routes. These high-demand lines complement the subway system by offering frequent service to Boston’s most densely populated neighborhoods. Beginning in 2024, the MBTA plans to retire the key bus route designation in favor of a more comprehensive frequent route network. Routes 28 and 39 utilize 60-foot articulated buses.
A small number of early morning round trips operate between outlying stations and , primarily intended for station personnel but accessible to all riders. These trips carry internal designations 191–194 but are presented as variants of standard local routes.
131–137
Routes numbered 131 to 137 service the Melrose vicinity, originating from former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that were incorporated into the MBTA system in 1968. The now-discontinued route 136 and route 137 briefly extended service to Lowell and Lawrence during MBTA management. Route 132 was obtained from Service Bus Lines in 1975.
171
Route 171 operates as a limited-service substitute for early morning CT3 trips that were shortened from Logan Airport in 2002. Other routes in the 170 series formerly served industrial zones but had brief operational periods.
201–202
Originally established by the M.T.A. in 1962 from routes inherited from B.E.R.Y., the 20 belt route was renamed as routes 201 and 202 in 2005 to better indicate the direction of each loop.
210–245
Serving the Quincy region, routes numbered 210 through 245 trace their origins to Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that became part of the MBTA in 1968. After the Red Line’s Braintree Branch opened in stages during the 1970s and 1980s, these routes were adjusted to terminate at newly established rapid transit stations, mainly .
| Route
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Description
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MBTA link
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| 210
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–
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| 211
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–Squantum
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| 215
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– via West Quincy
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| 216
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Houghs Neck– passing through Germantown
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| 217
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–
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| 220
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(Hingham) Hingham Depot–
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-
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222
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(Weymouth) East Weymouth –
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-
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225
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Weymouth Landing/East Braintree station –
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-
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226
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(Weymouth) Columbian Square – Braintree station
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-
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230
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Montello station –
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-
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236
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South Shore Plaza –
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-
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238
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Holbrook/Randolph station –
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|
-
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240
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(Avon) Avon Square –
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-
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245
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–
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350–354
These lines operate within the Burlington and Woburn vicinity, evolving from the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway’s Lowell–Boston corridor, which MBTA took over in 1968 and subsequently shortened to terminate at Burlington.
411–465
Covering the Lynn area and North Shore, these routes include former Service Bus Lines services (411 and 430), acquired in 1975, alongside others from the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway absorbed in 1968. Two Haymarket-based routes provide weekend branches terminating at Wonderland.
501–558
These express bus routes provide service between Newton and downtown Boston, traveling along the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). The MBTA launched the 500 series during the 1960s to capitalize on the newly extended turnpike. The 550 series has its roots in former Middlesex and Boston Street Railway lines serving Newton Corner, which were expanded downtown in the 1960s and incorporated into the MBTA system in 1972; however, these routes were shortened back to Newton Corner as of 2020.
Privately operated routes
The MBTA provides partial funding for suburban routes located beyond its central service area that link with MBTA transit. The radial commuter lines 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 integration. Additionally, local circulator services established by municipalities with MBTA financial support are run by private contractors, with the exception of the Beverly Shuttle, which is managed by the Cape Ann Transportation Authority.
External links
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