MBta

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), commonly known as the T, is the public transportation agency that serves the Greater Boston region in Massachusetts. It operates multiple modes of transit, including subway, bus, commuter rail, light rail, ferry, and paratransit services, serving hundreds of communities around the Boston metropolitan area.

The MBTA was established in 1964 by the Massachusetts legislature to consolidate and assume control of previously private and municipal transit operators in the Boston area. It merged functions from earlier agencies that had existed since the late 19th and early 20th centuries and has since overseen the development and modernization of the region’s transit network, though it continues to face capital and reliability challenges common to aging systems.

The MBTA’s service network includes four subway lines—Red Line, Orange Line, Green Line, and Blue Line—a combination of light rail and rapid transit routes, a large bus network, and the commuter rail system that serves suburban communities radiating from Boston. The agency also operates ferry services and a bus rapid transit corridor known as the Silver Line. The Ride, a paratransit service, provides transportation for eligible riders who cannot use fixed-route services.

Fares are collected through pass and stored-value media such as CharlieCard and CharlieTicket, with ongoing moves toward contactless payment. The commuter rail uses a zone-based fare structure, while buses and subways use distance- or time-based pricing depending on the specific route.

Governed by a board of directors appointed by the governor with the consent of the state Senate, the MBTA finances operations through fare revenue, state and federal funding, and local contributions. It remains a key component of transportation planning and mobility in Massachusetts.