The original numbering system also included the subway lines. During the late 1960's, route numbers 1-2-3 became the color coded Red Line, Orange Line, and Blue Line. The "light rail" Green Line had various route numbers for the different branches, prior to adoption of letters for the branches. In addition, the Red Line extension from Ashmont to Mattapan, more of a light rail nature, was previously route number 28.
In 1968 and 1972 respectively, MBTA acquired the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Co. (EMSR), and the Middlesex & Boston Street Railway Co. (M&B), both operating primarily in the suburbs. Most routes were originally assigned higher numbers, but some routes were assigned lower "city" numbers, if their operations were transferred to the "city" system bus garages. A few M&B routes were acquired from Lovell Bus Lines in 1953.
In addition, routes 33 and 130 replaced buses, which had been operated by Pierce Bus Lines and Service Bus Lines respectively. Routes were acquired in 1959 and 1975 respectively.
"CT" stands for Crosstown, for a group of three routes introduced in 1994.
Discontinued routes are in parentheses. Where two dates are listed, routes generally were converted from streetcar to trolleybus, and trolleybus to motor bus on those respective dates. "SC to bus" indicates conversion dates directly from streetcar to bus. Little information is available on dates for newly created bus routes.
Not listed are routes newly created by MBTA, but later discontinued.
Route Route Trolleybus Motor Subsequent
Number Name Or Prior Bus History
History
1 Harvard-Massachusetts Ave. from 76 1962
1 Massachusetts Ave.-Dudley from 47 1962
(2) South Station-North Station from 53 1966 disc. 4/ /81
(4) GREEN D-Riverside LIGHT RAIL
4 World Trade Center new bus 9/ /98
(5) Fish Pier-South Station disc. 6/ /68
(5A) South Station-Haymarket to 6 1975
5 McCormack Housing new bus 4/ /77
(6) Army Base-South Station disc. 1/ /05
(6) South Station-Haymarket from 5A 1975 disc. 2009
7 City Point-South Station SC to bus 6/20/53
8 Columbia Point new bus 1954
8 Savin Hill-Kenmore from 13 4/ /81
9 City Point-Copley via Broadway SC to bus 12/ 5/53
10 City Point-Copley via Andrew SC to bus 12/ 5/53
10 Boston City Hospital-Copley from 68 5/ /87
11 Bay View-Kneeland/Washington SC to bus 1/19/29
(12) Savin Hill-Andrew to 18 1962
(13) Savin Hill-Northampton to 8 4/ /81
(14) Freeport/Mill Sts. disc. 11/ /79
14 Heath St.-Ruggles from 46 3/ /02
14 Roslindale Sq.-Ruggles new bus 9/ /86
15 Kane Sq.-Ruggles 12/25/48 4/ 6/62
16 Forest Hills-Andrew 12/10/49 4/ 6/62
17 Fields Corner-Andrew 2/12/49 4/ 6/62
18 Savin Hill-Andrew from 12 1962
18 Ashmont-Andrew
19 Fields Corner-Ruggles 1/ 8/49 4/ 6/62
(20) Fields Corner-Neponset SC to bus 6/19/48 to 201 3/ /05
(21) Fields Corner-Adams St. SC to bus unknown to 20 9/ /62
21 Ashmont-Forest Hills new bus 6/ /63
22 Ashmont-Ruggles via Talbot 1/ 8/49 4/ 6/62
23 Ashmont-Ruggles via Washington 1/ 8/49 4/ 7/62
(24) Hallet Sq.-Ashmont to 215 6/ /76
24 Wakefield Ave.-Mattapan from 31A 1966
(25) Washington St.-Ashmont SC to bus 1928 to 26 4/ /81
26 Norfolk St.-Ruggles SC to bus 1928
26 Washington St.-Ashmont from 25 4/ /81
27 Mattapan-Ashmont via River St. SC to bus 1933
(28) RED Ashmont-Mattapan LIGHT RAIL
28 Mattapan-Ruggles via Blue Hill sup. bus 5/ /87
29 Mattapan-Jackson Sq. SC to bus 9/10/55
30 Mattapan-Forest H. via Cummins SC to bus 4/25/53
(30A) Mattapan-Arborway via Cummins SC to bus 4/25/53 disc. 4/ /81
(31) Wolcott Sq.-Mattapan SC to bus 4/25/53 to 32 4/ /81
31 Mattapan-Forest H. via Blue H. sup. bus 12/ /89
(31A) Wakefield Ave.-Mattapan to 24 1966
32 Cleary Sq.-Forest Hills TB to bus 10/ 1/58
32 Wolcott Sq.-Forest Hills from 31 4/ /81
33 Dedham Line-Mattapan Pierce BL 1/ /59
34 Dedham Line-Forest Hills 11/22/52 9/ 6/58
34E East Walpole-Forest Hills EMSR SC 6/12/32
35 Centre/Spring Sts.-Forest Hills
36 Charles River-Forest Hills 9/29/51 9/ 6/58
(36) Forest Hills-Readville Manor M&B 37 disc. 6/ /74
(37) VFW Parkway-Roslindale Sq. to 51 1961
37 Baker/Vermont-Forest Hills from 35 10/ /61
38 Wren St.-Forest Hills
39 Forest Hills-Back Bay Station SC to bus 12/28/85 WAS GREEN LINE
(40) Arborway-Egleston SC to bus 12/17/55 to 42 4/ /81
40 Georgetowne-Forest Hills new bus 12/ /73
41 Jamaica Plain-Dudley SC to bus 6/ 8/49
41 Dudley St. sup. bus 3/ /02
42 Forest Hills-Dudley SC to bus 9/17/49
42 Arborway-Egleston from 40 4/ /81
43 Ruggles-Tremont SC to bus 11/18/61
44 Seaver St.-Ruggles via Humboldt 1/29/49 3/31/61
45 Grove Hall-Ruggles via Blue H. 12/25/48 4/ 6/62
(46) Heath St.-Dudley to 14 3/ /02
(47) Massachusetts Ave.-Dudley SC to bus 9/12/53 to 1 1962
47 Brookline/Granite-Green/Pearl from 67 9/ /75
47 Boston City Hospital-Kenmore new bus 4/ /72
(48) Northampton-Dover via Albany SC to bus 3/ 5/38 disc. 4/ /81
(48) Jamaica Plain Loop new bus 3/ /73 disc. 7/ 1/12
(49) Northampton-Kneeland/Washington SILVER 7/20/02
50 Cleary Sq.-Forest Hills
51 Cleveland Circle-Forest Hills
51 VFW Parkway-Roslindale Sq. from 37 1961
(52) Copley Sta.-South Sta. disc. 6/ /71
52 Dedham Mall-Watertown M&B 33 bus 1932
(53) South Station-North Station to 2 1966
(54) Copley Sta.-Bowdoin disc. 6/ /71
55 Queensberry-Boylston
(56) Amesbury-Kendall via Vassar St. new bus 1947 disc. 6/ /71
(57) GREEN E-Heath LIGHT RAIL
57 Watertown-Kenmore SC to bus 6/20/69 WAS GREEN LINE
(58) Cypress-Kenmore via Boylston SC to bus 1932 disc. 12/ /85
(59) Chestnut Hill-Forest Hills disc. 11/ /79
59 Needham-Watertown M&B 32 SC 1/ 1/28
60 Chestnut Hill-Kenmore SC to bus 1932
(61) GREEN C-Cleveland Circle LIGHT RAIL
(61) Lexington-Waltham M&B 25 SC 7/16/25 to 70 12/ /89
(62) GREEN B-Boston College LIGHT RAIL
62 Bedford VA-Alewife M&B 29 SC 9/16/24
(63) Cleveland Circle-Central Sq. to 86 12/ /89
64 Oak Sq.-Central Sq. Cambridge
65 Brighton Center-Kenmore SC to bus 1920's
66 Allston-Dudley via Brookline SC to bus 9/10/38
(67) Brookline/Granite-Green/Pearl to 47 9/ /75
67 Turkey Hill-Alewife M&B 30 (Lovell)
(68) Boston City Hospital-Copley to 10 5/ /87
(68) West Newton St. disc. 5/ /87
68 Harvard-Kendall via Broadway from 75 9/ /98
(69) GREEN A-Watertown SC to bus 6/21/69 to 57 6/21/69
69 Harvard-Lechmere via Cambridge from 77 1966
70 Cambridge-Watertown 6/17/50 3/31/61
70 Watertown-Waltham M&B 23 SC 6/ 9/28
71 Watertown-Harvard 9/ 5/58 3/12/22
72 Huron Ave.-Harvard via Concord 4/ 2/38 3/ /13
73 Waverley-Harvard 9/ 5/58 3/12/22
74 Belmont-Harvard via Concord
(75) Harvard-Kendall via Broadway to 68 9/ /98
75 Fresh Pond Pkwy. new bus 12/ /89
(76) Harvard-Massachusetts Ave. 9/19/49 3/31/61 to 1 1962
(76) First & Monroe-Kendall new bus 1934 disc. 6/ /71
76 Hanscom Field-Alewife M&B 28 (Lovell)
(77) Harvard-Lechmere via Cambridge 4/11/36 3/31/63 to 69 1966
77 North Cambridge-Harvard from 79 1966 STILL TB
77 Arlington Heights-Harvard from 82 1966
78 Park Circle-Harvard
(79) North Cambridge-Harvard 9/ 5/58 3/30/63 to 77 1966
79 Arlington Heights-Alewife sup. bus 12/ /85
80 Arlington Center-Lechmere 7/ 9/32 3/29/63
(81) Arlington Ctr.-Clarendon Hill SC to bus unknown to 87 1963
(82) Arlington Heights-Harvard SC to bus 9/ 5/58 to 77 1966
83 Porter Sq.-Central Sq.
83 Rindge Ave. new bus 12/ /74
(84) Spring Hill-Kendall to 85 1960
84 Arlmont-Harvard Sta. new bus 6/ /53
85 Spring Hill-Kendall from 84 1960
86 Allston-Somerville
86 Cleveland Circle-Central Sq. from 63 12/ /89
87 Clarendon Hill-Lechmere SC to bus 11/ 8/41
87 Arlington Ctr.-Clarendon Hill from 81 1963
88 Clarendon-Lechmere via Highland 11/ 8/41 3/30/63
89 Clarendon Hill-Sullivan 12/ 7/46 3/30/63
90 Davis Sq.-Sullivan unknown 11/15/56
91 Sullivan-Central Sq.
92 Sullivan-Haymarket via Main SC to bus 4/ 3/48
93 Sullivan-Haymarket via Bunker H SC to bus 7/ 2/49
(94) Davis-Sullivan disc. 10/ /79
94 Medford-Sq.-Davis Station new bus 6/ /84
95 West Medford-Sullivan
96 Medford Sq.-Harvard
(97) Salem St.-Everett disc. 12/ /75
97 Malden-Wellington via Hancock new bus 3/ /76
(98) Logan Airport disc. 6/ /76
99 Upper Highland-Everett
100 Elm St.-Sullivan via Fellsway SC to bus 12/17/55
(100A) Reading-Stoneham EMSR SC 1924 disc. 6/ /71
(100A) Stoneham-Sullivan EMSR SC 7/28/46 disc. 6/ /71
101 Salem St.-Sullivan 4/19/47 3/14/59
(102) Malden-Faulkner unknown 3/29/63 to 105 9/ /69
(103) Malden-Everett via Main SC to bus unknown to 106 4/ /62
(103) Medford Sq.-Sullivan to 134 12/ /70
(103A) Medford Sq.-Malden Sq. disc. 12/ /74
104 Malden-Everett via Ferry unknown 3/30/63
105 Faulkner-Everett unknown 3/30/63
105 Malden-Faulkner from 102 9/ /69
106 Malden-Everett via Main from 103 1963
106 Lebanon St.-Everett unknown 3/30/63
(107) North Broadway-Everett to 430 12/ /76
108 Linden-Sullivan
109 Linden-Everett via Broadway unknown 3/30/63
110 Wonderland-Everett unknown 3/30/63
111 Woodlawn-City Sq. SC to bus 5/ 8/37
112 Malden Sq.-City Sq. unknown 6/24/61
(113) Wonderland-Malden via Ferry unknown 1957 disc. 1987
114 Bellingham Sq.-Maverick 1/ 5/52 4/ 1/61
(115) Gladstone-Maverick 1/ 5/52 disc. 6/ /55
116 Wonderland-Wood Isl. via Revere 1/ 5/52 9/ 9/61
117 Wonderland-Wood Isl. via Beach 1/ 5/52 9/ 9/61
(118) Revere Carhouse-Maverick 1/ 5/52 disc. 6/ /55
119 Revere City Hall-Beachmont SC to bus 10/10/36
120 Orient Heights-Maverick unknown 9/ 9/61
120 Maverick-Jeffries Point from 122 3/ /69
120 Orient Heights-Waldemar Ave. from 123 3/ /69
121 Wood Island-Maverick 1/ 5/52 3/31/61
(122) Maverick-Jeffries Point SC to bus 4/24/49 to 120 3/ /69
(123) Orient Heights-Waldemar Ave. to 120 3/ /69
(130) Wyoming Sq.-Melrose via Malden Service Bus 1975 to 132 1/ /05
131 Wyoming-Melrose via East Side EMSR SC 8/ 2/31
(132) Wakefield-Stoneham-Winchester EMSR SC 7/ 8/29 disc. 6/ /71
(132) Winchester-Arlington EMSR SC 8/ 2/31 disc. 6/ /71
132 Redstone-Malden via Wyoming from 130 1/ /05
(133) Woburn-Malden via Stoneham EMSR SC 8/ 2/31 disc. 9/ /78
134 North Woburn-Medford EMSR SC 8/ 2/31
(135) Reading-Wakefield EMSR SC 1924 to 136 1982
136 Reading-Malden via Wakefield EMSR SC 8/ 2/31
137 Reading-Malden via North Ave. EMSR SC 8/ 2/31
170 Burlington Indust.-Dudley new bus 6/ /68
171 Dudley-Logan Airport new bus 3/ /02
201 Fields Corner-Neponset from 20 3/ /05
202 Fields Corner-Neponset from 20 3/ /05
Route Route Trolleybus Motor Subsequent
Number Name Or Prior Bus History
History
CT1 Cambridge-B.U. Medical Center sup. bus 9/ /94
CT2 Sullivan-Ruggles sup. bus 9/ /94
CT3 Beth Israel-Andrew sup. bus 9/ /94
Historically, route 62 was part of a through route to Lowell, cut back to Bedford in 1958.Historically, route 136 was part of a through route to Lowell, and route 137 was part of a through route to Lawrence, cut back to Reading with the 1968 acquisition by MBTA as outside the MBTA area.