MBTA crosstown bus routes

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

Company type	Public agency
Industry	Public transportation
Founded	August 1, 1964 (1964-08-01)
Headquarters	Boston , United States
Area served	Boston metropolitan area
Products	Bus service, subway, commuter rail, ferry service
Website	www.mbta.com

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) manages two specific crosstown bus routes within the Boston, Massachusetts region: CT2 and CT3. These limited-stop routes operate exclusively on weekdays, linking key locations with fewer stops than standard local services, thereby decreasing overall travel duration.

In 1994, three crosstown routes—CT1, CT2, and CT3—were introduced. As part of the Urban Ring Project (MBTA), a temporary plan suggested adding eight more routes (CT4–CT11) to create circumferential service that would bypass central subway stations; however, these additional lines were never launched. In 2019, route CT1 was consolidated into route . The MBTA has announced intentions to retire all Crosstown Routes by 2028 as part of its comprehensive bus network redesign.

CT1

The CT1 Central Square, Cambridge–B.U. Medical Center/Boston Medical Center via M.I.T. (internal designation 701) ran between Central Square in Cambridge and B.U. Medical Center, primarily following Massachusetts Avenue. It functioned as a limited-stop version of route , offering transfers at most stops. The CT1 route saw minimal changes since its inception in 1994. In September 2019, CT1 was merged into route 1 to improve service reliability and frequency.

Station listing

Station
Central Square
Pearl Street
University Park
M.I.T.
Beacon Street
Hynes Convention Center
Symphony/Westland Avenue
Massachusetts Avenue station
Washington Street
Harrison Avenue
B.U. Medical Center

CT2

The CT2 Sullivan Square station–Ruggles station (route code 747) links Sullivan Square in Charlestown with Ruggles in Roxbury, passing through Kendall Square in Cambridge. Its southern section closely follows the path of route . Originally introduced as a Ruggles–Kendall line in September 1994, it was extended northward to Sullivan via Union Square in September 2000.

As of , CT2 runs every 25 minutes during weekday morning rush hours, every 40 minutes in the afternoon peak, and every 60 minutes at midday. There is no service during evenings or weekends. In May 2022, the MBTA proposed eliminating CT2 within a systemwide bus network overhaul, redistributing coverage to lengthened routes and , which would operate with higher frequency. A revision in November 2022 upheld the plan to discontinue CT2 but substituted the route 39 extension with a more frequent route 47.

Station listing

Station	Transfers and notes
REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Orange Line, Template:MBTA bus links
Cobble Hill	Template:MBTA bus links
McGrath Highway	Green Line E branch, Template:MBTA bus links
Union Square	Green Line D branch, Template:MBTA bus links
Cambridge Street	Template:MBTA bus links
Portland Street	Template:MBTA bus links
Kendall Square	Red Line, Template:MBTA bus links
Massachusetts Avenue	Template:MBTA bus links
Memorial Drive	—
Boston University	Green Line B branch, Template:MBTA bus links
Park and Beacon Streets	Green Line C branch, Template:MBTA bus links
Fenway Station	Green Line D branch, Template:MBTA bus links
Beth Israel Hospital	Template:MBTA bus links
Children's Hospital	Template:MBTA bus links
Longwood Avenue	Green Line E branch, Template:MBTA bus links
Huntington Avenue	'Green Line E branch, Template:MBTA bus links

CT3

The CT3 Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Andrew Station route (internal identifier 708) connects the Longwood Medical Area with Andrew Square entirely within Boston, following a path that closely mirrors the . The line includes stops at Avenue Louis Pasteur, Children's Hospital, and Beth Israel Hospital, which together create a one-way circuit.

Initially known as Beth Israel–Andrew, this service was extended to Logan Airport in December 1998 (code 709). However, this extension was terminated in March 2002 due to insufficient ridership. A limited number of early morning trips continued to operate as the between and Logan. In January 2005, certain peak hour runs were adjusted to include service to Newmarket Square.

Currently, CT3 runs with peak frequencies of 20 to 22 minutes, early afternoon intervals of 30 minutes, and midday service every 80 minutes. The route does not offer evening or weekend operations. The May 2022 draft of the network plan recommended discontinuing CT3, proposing its replacement primarily by a new – route traveling through Huntington Avenue, Ruggles, Andrew, and D Street. A revision in November 2022 altered this proposed replacement to run via Brookline Avenue, Roxbury Crossing station, and Nubian station.

Station listing

Station	Transfers and notes
Avenue Louis Pasteur	Template:MBTA bus links
Children's Hospital	Template:MBTA bus links
Beth Israel Hospital	Template:MBTA bus links
Ruggles Street/Huntington Avenue	Green Line E branch, Template:MBTA bus links
Ruggles	Orange Line, MBTA Commuter Rail, Template:MBTA bus links
Washington Street	Silver Line (Template:MBTABus and Template:MBTABus), Template:MBTA bus links
Harrison Street (Boston Medical Center)	Template:MBTA bus links
BU Medical Center	Template:MBTA bus links
Albany Street (Boston Medical Center)	Template:MBTA bus links
Magazine Street (limited service)	Template:MBTA bus links
REDIRECT Template:Boston transportation system	Red Line, Template:MBTA bus links