Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
MBTA services sampling excluding trolleybus.jpg
Info
Locale	Greater Boston, Massachusetts, US
Transit type	Bus bus rapid transit ferryboat light rail rapid transit regional rail trolleybus
Chief executive	Phillip Eng
Headquarters	10 Park Plaza Boston, Massachusetts 02116
Operation
Began operation	August 1964 (Predecessors date back to 1834)
Operator(s)	MBTA (rapid transit and most bus routes) Boston Harbor Cruises (ferries) Keolis (commuter rail) Various contractors (5 bus routes)

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (often called the MBTA or "the T") is the public agency that runs most public transport in the Greater Boston area of Massachusetts. It helps people get around using different types of transportation.

The MBTA network includes the MBTA subway with three metro lines (Blue, Orange, and Red lines). It also has two light rail lines (Green and Ashmont–Mattapan lines). There's also a five-line bus rapid transit system called the Silver Line. The MBTA also offers local and express MBTA bus service. Plus, there's a twelve-line MBTA Commuter Rail system and several ferry routes. In 2022, many people used the system. About 759,800 people rode it each weekday as of the first quarter of 2023. This makes it one of the busiest transit systems in the United States.

The MBTA took over from many older public and private transport companies. Public transport in Boston started way back in 1834 with commuter rail. Then came horse-drawn streetcars in 1856. Over time, these companies joined together and switched to electric power. The Boston Elevated Railway (BERy) took over in 1897. They built a rapid transit system, starting with the Tremont Street subway in 1897. The BERy became part of the public Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) in 1947. The MBTA then replaced the MTA in 1964. Its job was to help fund the commuter rail service that was struggling. The MBTA has continued to grow and improve transportation in the region.

How Boston's Public Transport Started

For a long time, private companies ran public transport in Boston. They often got special permission from the state to build their lines. This helped shape how Boston grew and where people lived.

Early Railways

The first steam locomotive train in Boston was the private Boston and Lowell Railroad. It started in 1830 and opened in 1835. This rail line connected Boston to Lowell, a big factory town. This was the beginning of intercity railroads in America. Today, these lines are part of the MBTA Commuter Rail system.

The First Streetcars

Many streetcar lines started in Boston after 1856. Boston has the oldest continuously running streetcar system in the world. Over time, many of these companies combined. The animal-drawn streetcars were changed to electric ones.

Subways and Elevated Trains

Downtown Boston became very crowded with streetcars. To fix this, the city built subways in 1897 and elevated rail lines in 1901. The Tremont Street subway was the first rapid transit tunnel in the United States. These underground and elevated lines helped trains move faster. They avoided delays caused by busy streets.

Over the years, more subway and elevated lines were added. This helped trains go directly to downtown without stopping as much. The last elevated heavy rail lines in Boston were removed in 1975 and 1987. However, part of the Green Line still runs on an elevated structure. This was updated as part of the Green Line Extension project.

Public Ownership of Transit

The old elevated railways were not very pretty and had sharp turns. Some were closed and taken down. As fewer people rode trains because more people owned cars, the government took over. This stopped the train lines from being completely shut down. The MTA bought and took over the subway, elevated, streetcar, and bus services in 1947.

In the 1950s, the MTA added new subway lines. Some streetcar lines were replaced with buses. In 1958, the MTA bought the Highland branch. It reopened it a year later as a rapid transit line. This is now the Green Line D branch.

By the early 1960s, private commuter rail lines were struggling financially. Many lines were in bad shape or had been closed. People wanted the state to help. So, on August 3, 1964, the MBTA took over from the MTA. Its service area grew to 78 cities and towns. This was to help fund the commuter rail lines. The MBTA bought the commuter rail lines from private companies in the 1970s. This made the system state-owned.

The MBTA gave colors to its four rapid transit lines in 1965. The Green Line branches were given letters. Some Green Line branches were replaced by buses. For example, the A branch stopped running in 1969. The E branch was shortened in 1985.

In the 1970s, the MBTA got a boost. A study decided that public transport was very important. It was more important than building more highways. This led to plans for many new transit lines. Elevated lines continued to be removed. The Washington Street Elevated closed in 1987. This ended rapid transit service to the Roxbury neighborhood. Between 1971 and 1985, the Red Line was extended north and south. This added more subway coverage and parking areas.

The 21st Century MBTA

By 1999, the MBTA's service area grew to 175 cities and towns. This included most areas served by commuter rail. Since 2000, the MBTA gets money from a portion of the state sales tax. It also gets money from fares and payments from cities and towns.

The MBTA was also asked to increase public transport. This was to help reduce car pollution from the Big Dig project. However, the Big Dig didn't include money for these improvements. This caused the MBTA to go into debt. Fares went up in 2007.

In 2009, a new law put the MBTA under the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). In February 2015, Boston had record snowfall. This caused many problems for the MBTA system. The Governor of Massachusetts, Charlie Baker, created a special group to fix these problems.

In 2015, a new board was created to help the MBTA. This board had special powers to improve the agency for five years. Construction of the Green Line Extension began in 2018. This was the first new rail rapid transit expansion since 1987. In April 2018, the MBTA Silver Line started a new route.

In 2019, a Red Line train went off the tracks. This caused delays for months. It brought more attention to maintenance problems. The governor suggested adding more money to speed up repairs. A report in December 2019 said that safety needed to be the top priority at the MBTA. In June 2021, the special board was replaced by a permanent MBTA Board of Directors. In April 2022, the Federal Transit Administration said it would watch over the MBTA's safety more closely.

As of 2022, the MBTA has greatly reduced its greenhouse gas emissions. It now uses 100% renewable electricity.

MBTA Services: How to Get Around

Subway Lines

The MBTA subway system has three heavy rail lines: the Red, Orange, and Blue Lines. It also has two light rail lines: the Green Line and the Ashmont–Mattapan High-Speed Line. The Ashmont-Mattapan line is considered an extension of the Red Line. These lines all connect downtown Boston to its surrounding areas. People in Boston often call all these lines "the subway" or "the T."

All four subway lines go through downtown Boston. They form a square shape. The Orange and Green Lines even connect directly at two stations. The Red Line and Blue Line are the only ones that don't have a direct transfer. When you're on the subway, trains are called "inbound" or "outbound." "Inbound" trains go towards the downtown transfer stations. "Outbound" trains go away from them.

The Green Line has four branches in the west: B (Boston College), C (Cleveland Circle), D (Riverside), and E (Heath Street). The Red Line has two branches in the south: Ashmont and Braintree. These are named after their last stations.

The MBTA assigned colors to the lines on August 26, 1965.

• The Orange Line used to run along a street called Orange Street.
• The Green Line runs next to parts of the Emerald Necklace park system.
• The Blue Line goes under Boston Harbor.
• The Red Line's northernmost station was at Harvard University, whose school color is crimson.

The Green Line tunnel between Park Street and Boylston stations opened in September 1897. It was the first subway in the United States. It's now a National Historic Landmark. All the main downtown subway tunnels were open by 1912. The system has continued to grow, with new additions like the Silver Line and the Green Line Extension.

Bus Services

The MBTA bus system is one of the largest in the country. It has over 170 routes. Most routes provide local service in the main city areas. Smaller bus networks are also found in Waltham, Lynn, and Quincy. There are also longer routes that serve less crowded suburbs. These include some express routes. On maps, the buses are shown in yellow. Most bus routes are run directly by the MBTA. However, some suburban routes are run by private companies.

The Silver Line is also part of the bus system. It's called bus rapid transit (BRT). Two routes run on Washington Street in Boston. Three "waterfront" routes use a special tunnel in South Boston. The Washington Street service started in 2002. The waterfront service began in 2004. An extension to Chelsea opened in 2018.

The MBTA used to have a large network of trolleybuses. These were electric buses that got power from overhead wires. The last four trolleybus lines were replaced by regular buses in 2022.

Commuter Rail Trains

The MBTA Commuter Rail system is a train network that connects Boston to its suburbs. It has twelve main lines. Some of these lines have two branches. The trains run outwards from Boston. The system has about 394 miles of track. Eight of the lines meet at South Station. Four of these also stop at Back Bay station. The other four lines meet at North Station. There is no direct connection for passengers between these two stations.

Special MBTA trains run to Gillette Stadium for New England Patriots games. The CapeFLYER is a special summer weekend service. Amtrak also runs regular long-distance trains on some MBTA lines. Freight trains also use parts of the network.

The first commuter rail service in the United States started in 1834. It ran on what is now the Framingham/Worcester Line. By 1900, many rail lines were owned by three big companies. In 1964, the MBTA was created to help fund these struggling lines. The MBTA gave the system a unified look in 1974. It was called "MBTA Commuter Rail" and used purple. The system has grown since 1981. Four lines have been brought back, and six have been extended. Many stations have also been added or rebuilt.

Each commuter rail line has up to eleven fare zones. You pay based on how many zones you travel through. You can buy tickets on the train, at some stations, or using a mobile app called mTicket. Fares range from $2.40 to $13.25. You can also buy passes for multiple rides or a whole month. In 2016, about 122,600 people rode the commuter rail each day.

Ferry Boats

The MBTA boat system has several ferry routes in Boston Harbor. One route connects the downtown waterfront to the Boston Navy Yard in Charlestown. Other routes are for commuters. They connect downtown to Hingham, Hull, and Salem. Some services also stop at Logan International Airport.

Private companies run all the boat services for the MBTA. In 2005, about 4,650 people rode the MBTA boats each weekday.

Special Transport for People with Disabilities

The MBTA also offers "The Ride." This is a special door-to-door service for people with disabilities. About 5,400 passengers use this service on a typical weekday. Two private companies run "The Ride" for the MBTA.

In 2016, the MBTA announced that users of "The Ride" could also get rides from Uber and Lyft. This made rides cheaper for the MBTA and sometimes faster for riders.

Bicycles on the MBTA

You can usually bring regular bicycles on MBTA commuter rail, commuter boat, and rapid transit lines. This is allowed during off-peak hours and all day on weekends and holidays. However, bicycles are not allowed on the Green Line or the Ashmont–Mattapan High-Speed Line at any time. Buses with bike racks on the front can always carry bicycles. The MBTA says that 95% of its buses have bike racks.

Bicycles are not allowed at Park Street, Downtown Crossing, and Government Center stations at any time. This is because these stations are very busy and crowded.

Small folding bicycles are allowed on all MBTA vehicles at all times. They must be kept fully folded during the trip. Gasoline-powered vehicles and bike trailers are not allowed.

You don't need a special permit to bring a bicycle on the MBTA. But you must follow the rules and hours. The MBTA website has detailed rules and information on how to use bike racks.

The MBTA says that over 95% of its stations have bike racks. Many of these are covered to protect bikes from the weather. Some stations also have "Pedal & Park" areas. These are enclosed spaces with video surveillance and controlled access for better security. You need a registered CharlieCard to get in. All bike parking is free.

Parking at MBTA Stations

As of 2014, the MBTA has parking lots at 103 locations. These lots can hold 55,000 cars. The MBTA owns the most paid parking spaces in New England. The number of spaces varies greatly by station. Larger lots are usually near major highway exits. Most lots fill up during the morning rush hour. Parking fees range from $4 to $7 per day. You can park overnight (up to 7 days) at some stations.

A private company manages some of the MBTA's parking lots. In 2017, the MBTA ended a contract with a company after employees were found stealing money. A new contract was given to another company with stronger rules against fraud.

You can pay for parking online or by phone at some MBTA lots. Monthly parking permits are also available at a small discount. The MBTA website has detailed parking information for each station. This includes prices and how many spaces are usually open.

The MBTA also has agreements with companies like Zipcar. The MBTA provides Zipcar with parking spaces at some subway stations.

Hours of Operation

The MBTA usually stops running around 1 a.m. each day. The subway lines don't have separate tracks for express and local trains. This means that much of the track maintenance can only be done when trains are not running. An MBTA spokesperson said that with a 109-year-old system, they need to do maintenance every night.

The MBTA tried a "Night Owl" bus service from 2001 to 2005. This was a bus service that ran late at night. But it was stopped because not enough people used it.

A new trial of late-night service began in 2014. All subway lines were planned to run until 3 a.m. on weekends. This also included 15 busy bus lines and "The Ride" service. This trial lasted for one year. However, in early 2016, the MBTA decided to cancel the late-night service. This was due to a lack of funding. The last late-night service ran on March 19, 2016.

In 2018, the MBTA tried "Early Morning and Late Night Bus Service Pilots" again. In June 2019, the board voted to make some changes to allow for more late-night service in the long term.

Who Uses the MBTA?

In 2013, the entire MBTA system had about 1,297,650 passengers on a typical weekday.

• The rapid transit lines (Red, Green, Orange, and Blue) carried 59% of all riders.
• Buses carried 30% of riders.
• Commuter rail carried 10% of riders.
• Ferries and special transport for people with disabilities carried the remaining 1%.

The number of passengers has been growing steadily. Between 2010 and 2013, the system saw a 4.6% increase in riders. This means an additional 57,000 daily passengers.

MBTA Typical Weekday Passenger Ridership

	2004	2007	2010	2013	+/-
Rapid transit
Red Line	210,500	226,417	241,603	272,684	+29.5%
Green Line	212,550	237,410	236,096	227,645	+7.1%
Orange Line	154,350	216,183	184,961	203,406	+31.8%
Blue Line	55,600	50,515	57,273	63,225	+13.7%
Commuter rail
MBTA Commuter Rail	143,092	140,825	132,720	129,075	−9.8%
Bus & trolley
MBTA bus & trolley (includes Silver Line)	382,600	355,588	374,040	387,815	+1.4%
Silver Line	14,100	25,715	30,026	29,839	+111.6%
Ferry
MBTA boat	4,674	4,900	4,372	4,464	−4.5%
Paratransit and contracted bus
The Ride	8,740	9,823	9,376	9,336	+6.8%
Total	1,172,106	1,241,631	1,240,441	1,327,489	+10.7%

Busiest MBTA subway stations by daily passengers (2013)

	Station	Passengers	Lines
1.	[[{{{station}}} (MBTA station)|{{{station}}}]]	25,100	Red Line, Silver Line, Commuter Rail
2.	Downtown Crossing	23,500	Red Line, Orange Line, Silver Line
3.	Harvard	23,200	Red Line
4.	Park Street	19,700	Red Line, Green Line, Orange Line, Silver Line note: use Park St. Downtown Crossing connection to access Orange Line and Silver Line
5.	Back Bay	18,100	Orange Line, Commuter Rail
6.	[[{{{station}}} (MBTA station)|{{{station}}}]]	17,100	Orange Line, Green Line, Commuter Rail
7.	Central	16,500	Red Line
8.	Kendall/MIT	15,400	Red Line
9.	Forest Hills	15,200	Orange Line, Commuter Rail
10.	Copley	14,000	Green Line

Paying for Your Ride

Fares and How to Pay

The MBTA has different ways to pay for its services. The plastic CharlieCard is used for the subway and bus systems. For commuter rail and ferries, you can use paper CharlieTickets or the mTicket mobile app. You can pay with cash on buses, surface trolleys, and commuter rail. However, it's better to use a CharlieCard or ticket. MBTA staff check tickets on the commuter rail and ferries. For "The Ride" service, you add money to an account.

Since the 1980s, the MBTA has offered monthly passes. These are cheaper for people who ride often. As of March 2022, there are also one-day and seven-day passes. These are often used by tourists.

The MBTA sometimes raises fares to help pay for the system. A law passed in 2013 limits fare increases to 7% every two years. Fares were raised in 2014, 2016, and 2019. Some local leaders have suggested making MBTA fares free.

The MBTA is working on a "Fare Transformation" project. This will allow you to pay with contactless credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay on all subway and bus lines. This means you won't need a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket. It will also allow all-door boarding on buses. This project is expected to be finished in 2025.

Subway and Bus Fares

All subway trips cost $2.40. This includes the Green, Blue, Orange, Red, Ashmont-Mattapan lines, and the Waterfront Silver Line. Local bus and trolley fares are $1.70. This includes the Washington Street Silver Line. You can only pay with cash on buses, Green Line surface stops, and the Ashmont-Mattapan Line.

Transfers between subway lines are free. If you use a CharlieCard, you can transfer from a subway to a bus for free. You just pay the difference in price. CharlieTicket holders can transfer for free between buses.

The MBTA also has "Inner Express" and "Outer Express" buses. Inner Express trips cost $4.25. Outer Express trips cost $5.25. You can transfer for free to the subway and local buses with a CharlieCard.

You can get CharlieTickets from vending machines at MBTA stations. As of July 2022, you can also buy CharlieCards from these machines. CharlieCards are "empty" when you get them. You need to add money to them before you can use them.

The MBTA switched from metal tokens to electronic fares in 2006. Tokens had been used for over a century. In 2007, fares for CharlieCards were lower. This was to encourage people to use them. In 2020, the MBTA started making cash and CharlieTicket prices the same as CharlieCard prices.

Commuter Rail Fares

Commuter rail fares depend on how far you travel from downtown. This is called a zone-based system. Rides between Zone 1A stations cost $2.40. This is the same as a subway fare. Fares for other stations range from $5.75 (Zone 1) to $14.50 (Zone 10).

You can get discounted monthly passes for all trips. These passes also include unlimited rides on the subway and local bus. Some outer-zone monthly passes also offer free use of express buses and ferries. If you pay with cash on board, there's an extra $3.00 fee at stations with ticket machines.

In spring 2022, the MBTA started installing fare gates at North Station, South Station, and Back Bay station. These gates make sure passengers have tickets before boarding. They can scan paper tickets, the mTicket app, and other IDs.

MBTA Boat Fares

The Inner Harbor Ferry costs $3.25 per ride. It's included in a Zone 1A monthly commuter rail pass. Single rides from Hull or Hingham to Boston cost $8.50. Trips from Hull or Hingham to Logan Airport cost $17.00. From Boston to Logan Airport, it's $13.75.

"The Ride" Fares

Fares for "The Ride" are different. You need to have an account with the MBTA. "ADA trips" cost $3.35. These are trips within 3/4 mile of a bus or subway line. "Premium trips" outside this area cost $5.60.

Discounted Fares

Discounted fares are available for seniors (65 and older) and people with permanent disabilities. They use a special photo CharlieCard. These passes also give 50% off commuter rail fares. People who are legally blind ride for free on all MBTA services. They use a "Blind Access Card."

Children under 12 ride for free with an adult (up to 2 children per adult). Military personnel, state police, and firefighters from the MBTA service area ride for free. They need to show proper ID or be in uniform.

Middle school and high school students get discounts. They need a "Student CharlieCard" or "S-Card" from their school. College students usually don't get reduced fares. However, some colleges offer a "Semester Pass" program. A "Youth Pass" program started in 2017. It helps young adults under 25 who live in certain towns and are in low-income programs.

Employer and College Subsidies

Employers can help their employees pay for transit passes. Some employers and colleges also pay for part of the cost for their employees or students. The MBTA has a program for these bulk purchases of monthly passes.

How the MBTA is Funded

The MBTA gets most of its money from the state sales tax. It also gets money from passenger fares and payments from the cities and towns it serves. Other income comes from parking lots, renting space to stores, advertising, and federal funding.

A report in May 2019 found that the MBTA needed about $10 billion for maintenance. It hopes to fix these issues by 2032.

The MBTA has a 5-year plan for big projects called the Capital Investment Program. These projects are paid for by federal grants, money from Massachusetts, and MBTA bonds.

Future Plans for the MBTA

Blue Line Expansion

There are plans to extend the Blue Line north to Lynn. Two possible routes have been looked at. One would run next to the existing commuter rail line. The other would follow an old railroad path.

The MBTA also plans to extend the Blue Line's southern end to Charles/MGH. This would connect it to the Red Line. This was part of an agreement to reduce car pollution from the Big Dig.

Orange and Red Line Updates

In 2013, MassDOT announced plans for a $1.3 billion project. This would replace and add new subway cars for the Orange and Red Lines. This would also allow for more frequent service. A company from China won the contract to build 404 new cars. The cars are being built in Springfield, Massachusetts. This was done to create a local railcar manufacturing industry. However, by early 2023, not all the new cars had been delivered. The MBTA has expressed concerns about the quality of the new cars.

Besides new trains, the project will also pay for testing, signal improvements, and better maintenance facilities. New signal systems will make trains more reliable and allow them to run more often.

Commuter Rail Expansion

The first part of the South Coast Rail project began construction in 2020. It is planned to open in mid-2024. This project will extend the Middleborough/Lakeville Line to Fall River and New Bedford. A second phase is planned for 2030.

The MBTA plans to change the commuter rail system. It wants to switch from diesel trains to electric trains. This would allow for more frequent service all day long. Plans are to have electric service on some lines by 2028–29. All lines could be electric by 2050.

There is no direct connection between the two downtown commuter rail stations (South Station and North Station). Passengers have to use the subway to transfer. The proposed North–South Rail Link would add a new rail tunnel under downtown Boston. This would allow trains to run through the city.

Other plans include extending the Middleborough/Lakeville Line to Buzzards Bay or Bourne. There are also plans to extend the Lowell Line to New Hampshire.

MBTA Property Management

The MBTA owns a lot of land in Massachusetts. It has a special agency to manage these properties. This agency works with other groups to allow them to use MBTA land. This can bring in extra money for the MBTA. It also helps with things like public advertising or property agreements.

Sometimes, the MBTA sells unused land. This might include old streetcar areas, equipment depots, or former railroad lines. The MBTA also works with companies that want to use its land for things like power lines, fiber optic cables, or roads.

How the MBTA is Managed

Structure of the MBTA

In 2015, Governor Charlie Baker created a special board to oversee the MBTA's finances. This was called the Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB). It started meeting in July 2015. Its job was to make the agency financially stable. This board's term ended in June 2021. It was replaced by a new MBTA Board of Directors with seven members.

The Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation leads MassDOT. The MBTA's daily operations are led by its General Manager. This person also oversees all public transit in the state.

The MBTA Advisory Board represents the cities and towns in the MBTA service area. This board can approve or reject the MBTA's budgets.

The MBTA's main office is in Boston. It also has many bus garages, rail yards, and maintenance facilities. The MBTA has its own police force, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Police. They have power in MBTA buildings and vehicles.

MBTA Board of Directors

The seven members of the board are:

• Thomas P. Glynn, Chair
• Monica Tibbits-Nutt, Secretary of Transportation
• Thomas P. Koch, Mayor of Quincy, Vice Chair
• Robert Butler
• Eric L. Goodwine
• Thomas M. McGee
• Charlie Sisitsky, Mayor of Framingham
• Chanda Smart

MassDOT Board of Directors

The eleven members of this committee are:

• Monica Tibbits-Nutt, Chair, Secretary (head) of MassDOT
• Joseph Beggan
• Ilyas Bhatti
• Richard A. Dimino
• Lisa I. Iezzoni
• Timothy King
• Thomas Koch
• Dean Mazzarella
• Tom McGee
• Vanessa Otero

General Managers of the MBTA

Here is a list of the MBTA's general managers:

• Thomas McLernon: 1960–1965
• Rush B. Lincoln Jr.: 1965–1967
• Leo J. Cusick: 1967–1970
• Joseph C. Kelly (acting): 1970
• Joseph C. Kelly: 1970–1975
• Bob Kiley: 1975–1979
• Robert Foster: 1979–1980
• Barry Locke: 1980–1981
• James O'Leary: 1981–1989
• Thomas P. Glynn: 1989–1991
• John J. Haley Jr.: 1991–1995
• Patrick Moynihan: 1995–1997
• Robert H. Prince: 1997–2001
• Michael H. Mulhern: 2002–2005
• Daniel Grabauskas: 2005–2009
• Richard A. Davey: 2010–2011
• Jonathan Davis (interim): 2011–2012
• Beverly A. Scott: 2012–2015
• Frank DePaola (interim): 2015–2016
• Brian Shortsleeve (acting): 2016–2017
• Steve Poftak (interim): 2017–2017
• Luis Manuel Ramírez: 2017–2018
• Jeff Gonneville (interim): 2018–2018
• Steve Poftak: 2019–2022
• Jeff Gonneville (interim): 2023–2023
• Phillip Eng: April 10, 2023–present

Employees and Unions

As of 2009, the MBTA has 6,346 workers. Many MBTA employees belong to unions. The largest union is the Carmen's Union (Local 589). This union represents bus and subway operators. It also includes train attendants and Customer Service Agents. Other unions represent machinists, electrical workers, and office staff.

Employees are ranked by how long they have worked for the MBTA. This is called "seniority." It affects things like choosing work schedules and getting overtime. It also affects when new hires can get full-time jobs.

Images for kids

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  Planned West End Street Railway system, 1885; consolidation of these lines was complete by 1887. See also 1880 horse railway map.

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  Park Street station in Boston on the Green Line soon after opening, c. 1898.

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  Logo of the Metropolitan Transit Authority, the MBTA's predecessor, extant from 1947 to 1964. An updated version of this graphic still appears on the Ashmont–Mattapan High-Speed Line streetcar livery.

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  MBTA Commuter Rail map showing the 175-municipality funding district created in 1999.

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  The SL3 bus rapid transit service, which was introduced in 2018.

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  Red Line at Downtown Crossing.

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  A typical New Flyer XDE40 Hybrid bus.

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  A Lowell line train at Anderson/Woburn RTC.

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  Commuter boat from Quincy approaching the dock at Long Wharf (service from Quincy was discontinued in 2013).

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  Ticket machines and faregates at the World Trade Center station on the Silver Line.

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  Faregates at Haymarket station.

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  Commuter rail tickets and on-board fare receipts.

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  Mockup of a new Red Line car on display in August 2018.