Public transportation in Massachusetts

The MBTA and 15 Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) provide fixed-route and paratransit service in communities across Massachusetts.

Use this page to learn about the types of services that transit authorities offer and which municipalities are members of each transit authority. Then visit your transit authority's website - or contact them directly - to learn what specific services they may offer to your city or town.

Jobs and Careers in Public Transit

Apply to drive for a Regional Transit Authority or the MBTA.

Introduction to Public Transit Services

The MBTA and Regional Transit Authorities offer a range of services to help riders travel locally and regionally:

Fixed Route

• All transit authorities offer some fixed-route services that have a regular route and schedule (such as bus or subway)
• Fixed-route transit is open to anyone! There is no eligibility process - just get on board
• For help learning to ride fixed-route services, look for a travel trainer
• Older adults and people with disabilities may qualify for discounted fares when riding the fixed route - contact your transit authority and ask about senior discounts, Senior Charlie Card, the Transportation Access Pass (TAP), or other discounts

Paratransit

• An origin-to-destination service. Routing varies depending on who requests a ride and where they are going
• Sometimes called "demand-response" or "dial-a-ride"
• Rides are shared. Other riders may be on the same vehicle, and you may make stops along the way
• Transit authorities are required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide paratransit service under certain circumstances. ADA paratransit is an eligibility-based service for people whose disabilities sometimes or always prevent them from using the fixed route, and who are traveling in an area served by fixed-route service. However, some transit authorities also provide additional paratransit services above and beyond what is federally required
• Contact your transit authority to find out how to apply for paratransit. Riders usually need to apply - and be deemed eligible - before they can book trips. Riders usually also have to book trips in advance (before the day they want to travel)

Other Services

• Transit authorities may offer additional services
• For example, many Regional Transit Authorities in Eastern Mass offer long-distance medical shuttles into Boston
• Starting in 2019, some transit authorities began piloting microtransit services: on-demand service offered to the general public directly by public transit authorities (for example: CATA On Demand, CATCH Connect, FRTA Access, GATRA GO, SmartDART, Via WRTA, and others)

What's Available in Your Area?

• Scroll down to find out which transit authority serves your area. Visit their website or call them to learn what services they offer and how to ride

Map of Transit Authorities in Massachusetts

The map (and list below) show which cities and towns are within the service areas of each Regional Transit Authority, as well as which cities and towns are served by the MBTA. (updated August 2, 2024)

MBTA Services

MBTA fixed route service serves the Greater Boston area.

• Visit www.mbta.com for more information about bus, subway, light rail, and ferry service
• Seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income youth may be eligible for reduced fares
• MBTA accessibility resources - information about accessibility features for riders with disabilities, as well as guides for how to ride the bus, subway, commuter rail, or ferry

MBTA Commuter Rail

• Lines serve Eastern Massachusetts north, south, and west of Boston, with lines running to Fitchburg, Franklin, Haverhill, Kingston, Lakeville, Lowell, Needham, Newburyport, Plymouth,  Rhode Island, Rockport, Scituate, Stoughton, and Worcester
• The Cape Flyer provides seasonal train service between Boston and Cape Cod

THE RIDE (paratransit for the MBTA)

• Service area - Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Beverly, Boston, Braintree, Brookline, Burlington, Cambridge, Canton, Chelsea, Cohasset, Concord, Danvers, Dedham, Everett, Hingham, Holbrook, Hull, Lexington, Lincoln, Lynn, Lynnfield, Malden, Marblehead, Medfield, Medford, Melrose, Middleton, Milton, Nahant, Needham, Newton, Norwood, Peabody, Quincy, Randolph, Reading, Revere, Salem, Saugus, Sharon, Somerville, Stoneham, Swampscott, Topsfield, Wakefield, Walpole, Waltham, Watertown, Wenham, Weston, Westwood, Weymouth, Wilmington, Winchester, Winthrop, and Woburn
• In addition, partial RIDE coverage is available in Abington, Avon, Billerica, Brockton, Stoughton, and Wellesley
• The RIDE's on-demand paratransit pilot allows RIDE customers to sign up for subsidized trips on Lyft, Uber, and Curb

Regional Transit Authorities

Regional Transit Authorities serve urban, suburban, and some rural areas across the Commonwealth from the Berkshires to the Islands. Find which transit authority serves your area and then visit their website or call them to learn more about what they offer and how to ride.

Regional Transit Authority and Contact Information	Member Cities and Towns
Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA) berkshirerta.com [phone]	Adams, Alford, Becket, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Dalton, Egremont, Florida, Great Barrington, Hancock, Hinsdale, Lanesborough, Lee, Lenox, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Ashford, New Marlborough, North Adams, Otis, Peru, Pittsfield, Richmond, Savoy, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Washington, West Stockbridge, Williamstown, Windsor
Brockton Area Transit Authority (BAT) www.ridebat.com [phone]	Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, East Bridgewater, Easton, Hanson, Rockland, Stoughton, West Bridgewater, Whitman
Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA) www.canntran.com [phone]	Essex, Gloucester, Hamilton, Ipswich, Rockport
Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (CCRTA) www.capecodrta.org [phone]	Barnstable, Bourne, Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Harwich, Mashpee, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro, Wellfleet, Yarmouth
Franklin Regional Transit Authority (FRTA) www.frta.org [phone]	Ashfield, Bernardston, Blandford, Buckland, Charlemont, Chester, Chesterfield, Colrain, Conway, Cummington, Deerfield, Erving, Gill, Goshen, Granville, Greenfield, Hatfield, Hawley, Heath, Huntington, Leyden, Middlefield, Montague, Montgomery, New Salem, Northfield, Orange, Petersham, Phillipston (also a member of MART), Plainfield, Rowe, Russell, Shelburne, Shutesbury, Southampton, Southwick, Tolland, Warwick, Wendell, Westhampton, Whately, Worthington
Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA) www.gatra.org [phone]	Attleboro, Bellingham, Berkley, Carver, Dighton, Duxbury, Foxborough, Franklin, Halifax, Hanover, Kingston, Lakeville, Mansfield, Marshfield, Medway, Middleborough, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Norton, Pembroke, Plainville, Plymouth, Plympton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Scituate, Seekonk, Taunton, Wareham, Wrentham
Lowell Regional Transit Authority (LRTA) www.lrta.com bus info: [phone] paratransit info: [phone]	Acton, Billerica, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Groton, Lowell, Maynard, Pepperell, Tewksbury, Townsend, Tyngsborough, Westford
Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority (MeVa) www.mvrta.com [phone]	Amesbury, Andover, Boxford, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Lawrence, Merrimac, Methuen, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, North Reading, Rowley, Salisbury, West Newbury
MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA) www.mwrta.com [phone]	Ashland, Dover, Framingham, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Hudson, Marlborough, Milford, Natick, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland, Wellesley, Weston
Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MART) www.mrta.us [phone]	Ashburnham, Ashby, Athol, Ayer, Barre (also a member of WRTA), Bolton, Boxborough, Fitchburg, Gardner, Hardwick, Harvard, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Leominster, Littleton, Lunenburg, Phillipston (also a member of FRTA), Royalston, Shirley, Sterling, Stow, Templeton, Townsend, Westminster, Winchendon
Nantucket Regional Transit Authority (NRTA) www.nrtawave.com [phone]	Nantucket
Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) www.pvta.com [phone]	Agawam, Amherst, Belchertown, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Easthampton, Granby, Hadley, Hampden, Holyoke, Leverett, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Northampton, Palmer, Pelham, South Hadley, Springfield, Sunderland, Ware, West Springfield, Westfield, Wilbraham, Williamsburg
Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA) www.srtabus.com [phone]	Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Fall River, Freetown, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, Somerset, Swansea, Westport
Vineyard Transit Authority (VTA) www.vineyardtransit.com [phone]	Aquinnah, Chilmark, Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, West Tisbury
Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) www.therta.com (508) 791-WRTA	Auburn, Barre (also a member of MART), Berlin, Boylston, Brimfield, Brookfield, Charlton, Clinton, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Grafton, Holden, Holland, Leicester, Millbury, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Northborough, Northbridge, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Southbridge, Spencer, Sturbridge, Sutton, Wales, Warren, Webster, West Boylston, West Brookfield, Westborough, Worcester

Other Transit

• Some cities or towns run their own public transit. For example:
  • Lexpress in Lexington
  • Cross Acton Transit in Acton
• Ride Match - search for additional public and private transportation options