88 (MBTA bus)

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Bus Division

Company type	Public agency division
Industry	Public transportation
Founded	1964
Headquarters	Boston , United States
Area served	Boston metropolitan region
Products	Bus services, Bus rapid transit (Silver Line)
Owner	Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Website	www.mbta.com/schedules/bus

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) bus division manages 151 routes throughout the Boston metropolitan region, all of which provide connections to MBTA subway lines, Commuter Rail services, or other bus routes. Of these, 147 routes are directly operated by the MBTA, while four are run under contract by private operators. Additionally, there are four suburban routes partially funded by the MBTA.

As of 2024, local bus fares are set at $1.70 per one-way trip. The Silver Line waterfront services (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW) charge the standard subway fare of $2.40. Express bus routes apply local fares for community sections and a $4.25 fare for express highway segments. Although service reductions occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, most have been reinstated by 2021; however, some routes remain suspended. Since 2018, the MBTA has been engaged in a comprehensive bus network redesign expected to conclude by 2028, with initial modifications introduced in December 2024.

Silver Line

The Silver Line comprises six bus rapid transit routes branded as rapid transit service. It operates two main branches: the Waterfront line (SL1, SL2, SL3, and the peak-period SLW shuttle) that travels through the South Boston Transitway tunnel, and the Washington Street line (SL4 and SL5) that runs on surface streets. The Waterfront routes charge subway fares, while Washington Street routes adhere to standard bus fare pricing. All Silver Line vehicles are articulated 60-foot buses; those on the Waterfront routes utilize hybrid buses equipped with extended battery capacity to enable electric operation within the tunnel.

SL5 began service in 2002 as a replacement for the Washington Street Elevated line. The SLW shuttle was introduced in 2004, followed by SL2 and SL3 later that year. SL1 commenced in 2005 alongside the deployment of dual-mode buses. SL4 started operating in 2009 after a planned tunnel project was canceled. A new SL3 route connecting Chelsea was launched 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 that provide limited-stop connections between major subway stations and bus transfer hubs. Initially launched in 1994 with three crosstown lines, 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 Hospital– REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL

1–121

These routes constitute the core of local transit service within Boston’s metropolitan area, with many tracing their roots back to former Boston Elevated Railway streetcar lines. Originally numbered in a clockwise sequence from southeast to northeast, this network has remained largely consistent through organizational changes from BERy to the Metropolitan Transit Authority in 1947 and later to the MBTA in 1964. Some smaller lines have been consolidated into main trunk lines, while new routes have been introduced during both M.T.A. and MBTA periods.

Seven routes— , , , , , , and —serve western suburbs including Bedford, Waltham, Lexington, and Needham. These originated from the 1972 acquisition of Middlesex and Boston Street Railway lines and were subsequently renumbered using previously retired designations.

In 2004, fourteen routes— , , , , , , , , , , , , , and —were identified as key bus routes due to their high ridership levels. These lines complement subway services by offering frequent connections within the city’s most densely populated neighborhoods. The MBTA’s Bus Network Redesign initiative starting in 2024 is gradually retiring this classification while expanding the frequent route network overall. Notably, routes 28 and 39 operate with articulated buses measuring 60 feet in length.

Additionally, four early morning round trips numbered 191 through 194 operate between outlying stations and over segments of multiple local lines. These trips primarily serve station agents but are accessible to all passengers and appear as variants of regular local routes.

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

131–137

Routes numbered 131 through 137 serve the Melrose region, originally stemming from former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that became part of the MBTA network in 1968. Under MBTA operation, route 136 was discontinued while route 137 once briefly extended service to Lowell and Lawrence. Prior to MBTA's takeover in 1975, route 132 was managed by Service Bus Lines.

Route	Description	MBTA link
131	Melrose Highlands to Oak Grove or Malden Center station	Template:MBTA bus EL
132	Redstone Shopping Center to Malden Center station	Template:MBTA bus EL
134	North Woburn to Wellington station	Template:MBTA bus EL
137	Reading Depot to Malden Center station	Template:MBTA bus EL

171

Route 171 operates with limited frequency, established as a replacement for early morning CT3 service reductions at Logan Airport since 2002. Earlier routes numbered in the 170s mainly served industrial zones but were short-lived.

Route	Description	MBTA link
171	Logan Airport terminals to Nubian station	Template:MBTA bus EL

201–202

The original 20 belt line, developed by the M.T.A. in 1962 from former BERy routes, was rebranded in 2005 as Routes 201 and 202 to distinguish the clockwise and counterclockwise loop directions.

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

210–245

Serving the Quincy area, routes numbered from 210 through 245 trace their origins to former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines incorporated into the MBTA in 1968. These routes initially ended near Quincy Center but were later rerouted to connect with Red Line stations such as Ashmont following the Braintree Branch openings during the 1970s and 1980s.

Route	Description	MBTA link
210	Quincy Center station to Fields Corner station	Template:MBTA bus EL
211	Quincy Center station to Squantum	Template:MBTA bus EL
215	Quincy Center station to Ashmont station via West Quincy	Template:MBTA bus EL
216	Houghs Neck to Quincy Center station via Germantown	Template:MBTA bus EL
217	Quincy Center station to Ashmont station	Template:MBTA bus EL

350–354

These routes operate in the Burlington and Woburn regions, originally part of the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway's Lowell–Boston line. The MBTA assumed control in 1968 and later truncated the 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

Covering Lynn and the North Shore, these routes include former Service Bus Lines routes (411, 430) acquired in 1975, as well as Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines taken over in 1968. Some services to Haymarket have weekend variations that end 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 (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	Central Square, Lynn via Goodwin Circle–Liberty Tree Mall	Template:MBTA bus EL
439	Wonderland station–Nahant	Template:MBTA bus EL
441	Wonderland via Paradise Road–Marblehead	Template:MBTA bus EL
442	'Wonderland via Humphrey Street–Marblehead	'Template:MBTA bus EL

|- | 450 |'Salem Depot – |' |- | 450W |'Wonderland station (weekend variant) – Salem Depot |' |- | 451 |'Salem Depot – North Beverly station |' |- | 455 |'Wonderland station – Salem Depot |' |- | 456 |'Central Square, Lynn – Salem Depot |' |}

501–558

These express services connect Newton with downtown Boston utilizing the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). The MBTA introduced the 500 series in the 1960s to capitalize on the turnpike extension. The 550 series evolved from Middlesex and Boston Street Railway lines to Newton Corner, which were extended downtown during the 1960s and integrated into the MBTA system in 1972; these were shortened back to Newton Corner in 2020.

Route	Description	MBTA link
501	Federal Street & Franklin Street–Brighton Center	Template:MBTA bus EL
504	Federal Street & Franklin Street–Watertown Yard	Template:MBTA bus EL
505	Federal Street & Franklin Street–Waltham Center

|} |- | 553

| Roberts – Newton Corner station 
| Template:MBTA bus EL |- |  554
| Waverley Square – Newton Corner station 
| Template:MBTA bus EL |- |  556
| Newton Corner station – Waltham Highlands 
| Template:MBTA bus EL |- |  558
| Newton Corner station – Riverside station 
| Template:MBTA bus EL |-  

}

Privately operated routes

The MBTA provides partial financial support for suburban bus lines beyond its central service area that connect with MBTA transit options. Routes 712 through 716 are radial commuter lines 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.

Local circulator routes without assigned numbers are established by municipalities and receive some funding from the MBTA. All these services are 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	Winthrop’s Point Shirley to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system via Revere Street	Template:MBTA bus EL	Paul Revere Transportation
Template:MBTABus	Point Shirley in Winthrop to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system passing through Winthrop Center	Template:MBTA bus EL
714	Hull’s Pemberton Point to Station Street in Hingham, Massachusetts	Template:MBTA bus EL	DPV Transportation
716	Cobbs Corner to REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Template:MBTA bus EL

Route	Description	Link	Operator

BED	Bedford Local Transit	Link	Town of Bedford

BEV	City of Beverly Shuttle	Link	CATA

LEX	Lexington Lexpress (4 routes)	Link	Town of Lexington

MIS	Mission Hill LINK	Link	Volunteers

External links

• MBTA – Bus schedules and maps