Public Transit
Riding the "T"
Downtown Boston is where our MBTA system began–literally. In 1897, Boston’s Tremont Street Subway (predecessor to the MBTA) opened. Running beneath Tremont Street, it linked Scollay Square (now Government Center) to Boylston Street. It was the first subway system in North America.
MBTA Subway & Silver Line
The MBTA’s subway system converges in downtown, with the Red, Orange, Green, and Blue lines meeting underneath Downtown Crossing. The Silver Line (bus line) goes through the Downtown Crossing area, too.
Use any of the following T subway stops to access downtown. Click here for more info about the service changes, schedules and maps:
- Boylston Street (Green line)
- Chinatown (both Orange and Silver lines)
- Downtown Crossing (both Orange and Red lines)
- Government Center (both Blue and Green lines)
- Park Street (both Red and Green lines)
- South Station (both Red and Silver lines)
- State Street (both Blue and Orange lines)
In addition to the four subway lines, the Silver Line rapid-transit bus shuttles continuously between South Station and Logan Airport, with additional downtown stops at 600 Washington Street and 26 Temple Place.
Please visit here for additional MBTA subway-related info, including the complete fare schedule and maps.
MBTA BUS ROUTES IN DOWNTOWN
Along with the Silver Line, the DBA area is serviced by nine MBTA bus routes: the 4, 7, 11, 43, 92, 93, 501, 504, and 505. Visit here to review their schedules and circuits, as well as the overall MBTA bus system map.
MBTA COMMUTER RAIL
The MBTA’s South Station transit center, conveniently located at 700 Atlantic Ave just steps from the DBA area, hosts the seven Southside branches of the T’s regional commuter rail system. It also serves as the terminus of the Northeast Corridor’s AMTRAK corridor. Finally, the South Station Bus Terminal hosts several regional bus carriers.
To access the MBTA’s North Station transit center from the DBA area, board the Orange Line anywhere in Downtown and disembark at North Station, located at 135 Causeway Street. In addition to hosting the five Northside branches of the T’s regional commuter rail system, North Station also serves as the departure point for AMTRAK’s Downeaster service, which links Boston to the cities of coastal Maine and New Hampshire.
MBTA FERRIES
All MBTA ferries depart from the Downtown Waterfront, just a few blocks east of the DBA area. For a delightful excursion to the legendary USS Constitution, take the Charlestown Navy Yard ferry, which is year-round. You can also access Logan Airport via a year-round ferry. Please visit here to check the ferry route map and schedule.
GET HELP: THE MBTA’S DOWNTOWN CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER
The MBTA’s customer-help store, The Charlie Service Center, is located right in the heart of Downtown! Head to 296 Washington Street (between Old South Meeting House and the Irish Famine Memorial Plaza) to access the following MBTA services:
- buy passes;
- replace a damaged or expired CharlieCard;
- request a Senior CharlieCard, Transportation Access Pass (TAP), or Blind Access Pass;
- process a name change on a Senior CharlieCard, Transportation Access Pass (TAP), or Blind Access Pass with a valid ID;
- add credit to a RIDE account;
- or connect reduced-fare benefits to a contactless payment method.
To make an appointment at the Charlie Service Center, visit here.
STAY INFORMED: MBTA SERVICE ALERTS
For all MBTA announcements—delays, openings, closings, and more—visit the MBTA’s service alerts page, which is broken-down by all MBTA transit modes. The page also includes info on how to subscribe to the MBTA’s texting-based T Alerts service.