Beginning Sunday, April 1, the MBTA launched a one-year pilot program introducing new early morning bus service across several key routes in the region.
The pilot targets the MBTA’s most heavily traveled bus lines, which connect neighborhoods in the immediate Boston area to downtown Boston, the Seaport, and intermediate stops. Service begins as early as 3:20 a.m., accommodating workers who start their shifts before dawn. The expansion reflects the MBTA’s commitment to serving riders with the greatest need for early morning transit options.
Nine routes participate in the pilot program, with four serving the Everett, Chelsea, Revere, East Boston, and downtown Boston corridor. The local routes include:
- Route 104 – Lynn Street Revere via Broadway Everett to Sullivan Square.
- Route 109 – serving Broadway Everett.
- Route 117 – serving Wonderland Revere to East Boston, via Revere, Chelsea and Eastie.
- Route 455 – Salem to Wonderland Revere.
Governor Charlie Baker stated: “The T’s expansion into early morning bus service will provide an important opportunity for the changing needs of Massachusetts’ workforce,” “Throughout this one-year pilot, the MBTA will be able to gather important information about changes in bus ridership and analyze that data to better inform future transportation plans around the Greater Boston area.”
Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack added: “The launch of early morning service demonstrates that the MBTA is acting on its top priority to put the needs of its customers first,” “This new transit option will serve workers who must start their day earlier than most. Other commuters and city residents depend upon these essential workers and the MBTA’s ability to get them to their work places safely and on time.”
The program also expands service on current routes during pre-dawn hours. Several routes will operate beyond their standard endpoints in the early morning, offering direct connections to downtown Boston and Logan Airport before train service begins. While some MBTA bus routes already provided early morning service, this expansion extends both the hours and coverage areas on multiple lines. The initiative stems from a year-long ridership analysis conducted by the T, which identified routes with the strongest early morning demand.