Bus division of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Bus Division| Company type | Public transit agency division |
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| Industry | Public transportation |
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| Founded | 1964 |
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| Headquarters | Boston , United States |
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Area served | Boston metropolitan area |
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| Products | Bus services, including local routes, express routes, Silver Line BRT |
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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 throughout the Boston metropolitan region, providing connections to MBTA subway lines, Commuter Rail services, and other bus networks. Out of these, 147 routes are operated directly by the MBTA, while four are managed under contracts with private operators. Moreover, four suburban transit systems receive partial financial support from the MBTA.
As of 2024, the fare for local bus rides is set at $1.70 per one-way trip. The Silver Line waterfront services (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW) apply the subway fare rate of $2.40. Express bus routes feature a two-tier fare structure: a local fare portion and a higher express fare of $4.25 for travel on highways into downtown Boston.
Although service reductions took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, most routes were reinstated by 2021 with some exceptions due to discontinuations. Since 2018, the MBTA has been progressively rolling out a comprehensive redesign of its bus network aimed at enhancing service frequency and operational efficiency; this initiative is anticipated to conclude by 2028. The initial phase was launched in December 2024.
Silver Line
The Silver Line comprises six bus rapid transit routes promoted as rapid transit service. It consists of two main segments: the Waterfront branch (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW), which operates through the South Boston Transitway tunnel and charges fares equivalent to the subway; and the Washington Street branch (SL4, SL5), which runs on surface streets and charges regular bus fares. All Silver Line vehicles are articulated buses measuring 60 feet in length; those serving the Waterfront routes are hybrid models equipped with extended battery capacity to enable electric operation within tunnels.
The SL5 route was introduced in 2002 as a replacement for the Washington Street Elevated line. The Silver Line Shuttle began service in 2004, followed by both SL2 and the original SL3 also in 2004; SL1 started in 2005 utilizing dual-mode buses. After plans for a tunnel extension were canceled, SL4 commenced operations in 2009. A new SL3 route serving Chelsea was added in 2018.
Crosstown
The MBTA operates two crosstown (CT) routes that provide limited-stop connections between key subway stations and major bus transfer locations. Initially, three crosstown routes were launched in 1994; however, route CT1 was merged into route 1 in 2019.
1–121
This group of routes constitutes the core local transit network within Boston’s metropolitan area, many tracing their origins back to former Boston Elevated Railway streetcar lines. Arranged clockwise from southeast to northeast, these routes connect critical neighborhoods ranging from South Boston to East Boston. The Boston Elevated Railway evolved into the Metropolitan Transit Authority in 1947 and later became part of the MBTA system in 1964, preserving this fundamental network with gradual expansions over time.
Seven routes—, , , , , , and —serve suburban communities west of Boston such as Bedford, Waltham, Lexington, and Needham. These lines originated from the MBTA’s 1972 acquisition of Middlesex and Boston Street Railway operations and were assigned numbers previously retired.
In 2004, fourteen routes—including , , , , , , and others—were identified as key bus lines due to their high ridership levels. These services complement subway lines by offering frequent trips to Boston’s most densely populated districts. The MBTA’s ongoing Bus Network Redesign in 2024 is phasing out the "key route" classification in favor of a broader network emphasizing frequent service. Notably, routes 28 and 39 operate using articulated buses measuring 60 feet.
Additionally, four early morning round-trip services (routes 191–194) operate between outlying stations and along multiple local corridors. While originally intended for station agents’ use, these trips are open to all passengers and represent timetable variations of standard local routes.
131–137
Routes numbered 131 through 137 operate within the Melrose region, tracing their origins to former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines that were incorporated into the MBTA network in 1968. Under MBTA management, routes 136 and 137 once extended temporarily to Lowell and Lawrence but have since been discontinued. Prior to MBTA oversight beginning in 1975, route 132 was managed by Service Bus Lines.
171
Route 171 provides limited service as a substitute for the early morning CT3 route reductions implemented in 2002 from Logan Airport. Other routes in the 170 series were generally short-duration services catering to industrial zones.
201–202
The 20 belt route, originally established by the Metropolitan Transit Authority in 1962 from Boston Elevated Railway routes, was reclassified in 2005 as routes 201 and 202 to distinguish the direction of their loops more clearly.
210–245
Serving the Quincy vicinity, routes from 210 to 245 originate from Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines absorbed into the MBTA in 1968. Following the incremental inauguration of the Red Line’s Braintree Branch during the 1970s and 1980s, these routes were adjusted to primarily conclude at rapid transit stations such as .
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 took over this service in 1968 and subsequently shortened it to terminate at Burlington.
411–465
Serving Lynn and the North Shore area, these routes include former Service Bus Lines routes (411, 430) acquired in 1975, alongside primarily Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway routes taken over in 1968. Certain weekend short-turn versions (marked with suffix W) of two Haymarket routes conclude at Wonderland station.
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Privately operated routes
The MBTA provides partial funding for suburban transit lines beyond its primary service boundaries that connect with its various transit systems. Commuter routes numbered 712 through 716 were originally owned by private companies and later incorporated into the MBTA network: Rapid Transit Inc. operates routes 712 and 713, Nantasket Transportation manages route 714, and Hudson Bus Lines runs route 716.
Routes without specific numbers, indicated on MBTA maps, serve as local circulators established by local governments with some financial support from the MBTA. Except for the Beverly Shuttle, which is operated by the Cape Ann Transportation Authority, these services are managed by private contractors.
| Route
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Route Description
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MBTA Link
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| 411
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Jack Satter House or Kennedy Drive–
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| 424
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Essex Street & Eastern Avenue–
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| 426
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Central Square, Lynn–
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| 426W
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Wonderland station to Central Square, Lynn
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| 428
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Oaklandvale to Haymarket station
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| 429
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Central Square, Lynn to Northgate Shopping Center
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| 430
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Malden Center station to Saugus Center
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| 435
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Central Square, Lynn via Peabody Square from Salem Depot
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| 436
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Central Square, Lynn via Goodwin Circle from Liberty Tree Mall
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| 439
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Wonderland station to Nahant
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| 441
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Wonderland station via Paradise Road to Marblehead
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| 442
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Wonderland station via Humphrey Street to Marblehead
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| 450
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'Salem Depot'–
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| 'Salem Depot'–Wonderland station
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' Template:MBTA bus EL
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' |-
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| 'North Beverly station'–Salem Depot
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' Template:MBTA bus EL
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' |-
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| 'Salem Depot'–Wonderland station
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' Template:MBTA bus EL
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' |-
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| 'Salem Depot'–Central Square, Lynn
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' Template:MBTA bus EL
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' |}
501–558
These express services link Newton with downtown Boston through the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). The MBTA launched the 500 series during the 1960s to utilize the newly extended turnpike. The 550 series evolved from Middlesex and Boston Street Railway lines serving Newton Corner, which were extended downtown in the 1960s and integrated into the MBTA system in 1972; however, they were later cut back to Newton Corner in 2020.
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| Newton Corner to Riverside station
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Template:MBTA bus EL
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External links
