MBTA Bus Division| Company type | Division of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |
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| Industry | Public transportation |
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| Headquarters | Boston , United States |
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Area served | Boston metropolitan area, Massachusetts |
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| Products | Bus transit services, including local bus routes, express routes, Silver Line BRT |
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| Owner | Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |
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| Parent | Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |
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| Website | mbta.com |
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The MBTA bus division under the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority manages 151 routes throughout the Boston, Massachusetts metropolitan region, all designed to connect with MBTA subway, MBTA Commuter Rail, or other bus lines. A majority of these routes have evolved from former streetcar services operated by the Boston Elevated Railway and suburban operators such as the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway and Middlesex and Boston Street Railway. The MBTA itself runs 147 of these routes directly; four are outsourced to private contractors, while another four suburban routes receive partial funding through the MBTA.
As of 2024, the one-way fare for local buses stands at $1.70. The Silver Line routes serving the waterfront (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW) apply the standard subway fare of $2.40. Express bus services implement a two-tier fare system: $1.70 for local sections and $4.25 for express highway portions.
Bus operations experienced interruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic but were restored to their previous service levels by 2021, with some routes being discontinued. Starting in 2018, the MBTA began a comprehensive bus network overhaul expected to conclude by 2028; initial modifications were rolled out in December 2024.
Silver Line
The Silver Line comprises six bus rapid transit routes promoted as rapid transit service, divided into two distinct branches: the Waterfront segment (SL1, SL2, SL3, SLW), which travels through the South Boston Transitway tunnel, and the Washington Street segment (SL4, SL5), which operates on surface streets. Waterfront routes charge fares consistent with subway pricing, whereas Washington Street routes maintain regular bus fares. All 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 Shuttle service commenced in 2004, followed later that year by SL2 and the original SL3. SL1 was introduced in 2005 utilizing dual-mode buses. After cancellation of a planned Phase III tunnel project, SL4 was launched in 2009. A new SL3 route extending to Chelsea began operations in 2018.
Crosstown
The MBTA operates two crosstown (CT) routes that provide limited-stop service linking key subway and bus transfer hubs. Originally launched in 1994 with three crosstown lines, route CT1 was merged into route 1 in 2019.
1–121
These lines cover nearly all local transit within the metropolitan center, with the majority originally established as streetcar routes under the Boston Elevated Railway. Numbered approximately in a clockwise sequence from the southeast to the northeast, their designations have remained mostly unchanged since the BERy period, aside from minor consolidations and additions during the eras of the Metropolitan Transit Authority and MBTA.
Seven routes—, , , , , , and —serve western suburban communities such as Bedford, Waltham, Lexington, and Needham. These lines trace back to former routes acquired from the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway in 1972 and were reassigned using retired route numbers.
In 2004, fourteen routes—, , , , , , , , , , , , , and —were classified as key bus routes. These high-demand corridors complement the subway network by delivering frequent service to Boston's most densely populated neighborhoods. Starting in 2024, the MBTA is transitioning away from the key bus route label in favor of a more comprehensive frequent route system. Routes 28 and 39 operate with 60-foot articulated buses.
There are four early morning round trips running between outlying stations and over segments of multiple local routes. Primarily designed for station staff but accessible to all riders, these trips are internally numbered 191–194 and appear as variants of local routes in published schedules.
131–137
Routes numbered 131 through 137 operate within the Melrose region, originating from former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway lines integrated into the MBTA system in 1968. The now-defunct 136 and route 137 once extended service to Lowell and Lawrence, their initial endpoints. Route 132 was incorporated into MBTA operations in 1975 after previously being run by Service Bus Lines.
171
Route 171 operates as a limited-service substitute for the early morning CT3 route that was shortened from Logan Airport in 2002. Other routes in the 170 series were generally brief industrial shuttle services.
201–202
The 20 belt route, originally established by the M.T.A. in 1962 through the combination of BERY's 20 and 21 segments, was renumbered in 2005 as routes 201 and 202 to better distinguish the direction of the loops.
210–245
Routes numbered from 210 to 245 primarily operate within the Quincy region. These lines originated from former Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway services that were incorporated into the MBTA system in 1968. Following the gradual launch of the Red Line’s Braintree Branch during the 1970s and 1980s, these routes were adjusted to conclude at rapid transit stations such as , facilitating improved connections between bus and subway services.
350–354
These routes cover areas including Burlington and Woburn. They trace their origins back to the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway's Lowell–Boston line, which was absorbed by the MBTA in 1968 and subsequently shortened to terminate in Burlington.
411–465
Serving Lynn and the North Shore area, these routes encompass former Service Bus Lines paths (411, 430) acquired in 1975, along with routes from the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway dating back to 1968. Certain Haymarket routes feature weekend short-turn versions (with a W suffix) that conclude at Wonderland.
501–558
These express services link Newton, Massachusetts with downtown Boston via the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). Introduced by the MBTA in the 1960s alongside the turnpike extension, the 500 series includes routes originally operated by the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway serving Newton Corner station, which were extended downtown during that decade and integrated into MBTA operations in 1972. In 2020, these services were truncated back to Newton Corner.
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Privately Operated Routes
The MBTA provides partial funding for suburban routes beyond its central service area that connect with its transit system. The radial commuter lines numbered 712 through 716 were originally operated by private companies before being acquired: Rapid Transit Inc. managed routes 712 and 713, Nantasket Transportation handled route 714, and Hudson Bus Lines operated route 716.
Routes without numerical designations serve as local circulators launched by municipalities and receive MBTA financial support. Except for the Beverly Shuttle, which is managed by the Cape Ann Transportation Authority, these services are contracted out to private operators.
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