39 (MBTA bus)

39 (MBTA bus) is a high-frequency bus route operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in Boston, Massachusetts. It provides a critical crosstown connection between the Forest Hills station terminus of the MBTA Orange Line and Back Bay station, a major intermodal hub serving the MBTA Commuter Rail and Amtrak. The route primarily runs along Huntington Avenue, linking numerous institutions in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area and the Fenway–Kenmore neighborhood with rapid transit.

Route description

The route begins at the busway of Forest Hills station in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood, adjacent to the Arnold Arboretum. It proceeds north on South Huntington Avenue, passing Jamaica Pond before transitioning onto Huntington Avenue at Heath Street. The bus travels the length of Huntington Avenue through the Mission Hill area, serving the Brigham Circle commercial district. It continues into the Longwood Medical and Academic Area, passing major institutions like Brigham and Women's Hospital, the Harvard Medical School, and the Museum of Fine Arts. The route then passes Northeastern University and Symphony Hall before terminating at the busway inside Back Bay station, near Copley Square and the Prudential Center.

History

The route's corridor has been served by streetcars since the late 19th century, operated by the West End Street Railway and later the Boston Elevated Railway. Streetcar service along Huntington Avenue to Forest Hills was designated as part of the Green Line's "E" branch. In 1985, as part of the MBTA's Arborway service changes, the "E" branch rail service was truncated to Heath Street, and the 39 bus was instituted to replace streetcars along the remainder of the route to Forest Hills. This change was initially controversial but established the 39 as a key bus replacement service. The route has seen various vehicle assignments over the decades, including articulated buses to handle high demand.

Operations

The 39 is based out of the Arborway Yard facility and is operated as a key high-frequency route, often using 40-foot hybrid electric buses like the New Flyer XDE40. It runs from approximately 4:45 AM to 1:15 AM daily, with scheduled headways as frequent as 5 minutes during peak periods on weekdays. The route is a core component of the MBTA's Key Bus Route network, benefiting from transit signal priority at certain intersections along Huntington Avenue and dedicated bus lanes in sections like those near Brigham Circle. Short-turn trips sometimes operate between Forest Hills and Brigham Circle to manage crowding and maintain schedule adherence.

Ridership

Pre-COVID-19 pandemic, the 39 was consistently one of the MBTA's busiest bus routes, regularly ranking among the top five in the system with annual ridership exceeding 4 million passengers. It serves a diverse mix of commuters, students, and medical employees, functioning as a primary transit link for staff and visitors to the Longwood Medical and Academic Area, students at Northeastern University and other colleges, and residents of Jamaica Plain and Mission Hill traveling to Back Bay and Downtown Boston. Ridership patterns show strong all-day demand due to the concentration of major employers and institutions along its path.

Future plans

Long-term planning documents, including the MBTA's Focus40 plan, have studied the potential restoration of Green Line trolley service to Forest Hills, which would replace the 39 bus. However, such a project faces significant capital funding and infrastructure challenges. More immediate improvements are focused on enhancing bus service through the Boston Transportation Department's Huntington Avenue corridor project, which aims to extend dedicated bus lanes and improve bus stops. The route is also a candidate for future upgrades under the MBTA's Bus Network Redesign initiative to improve frequency and reliability.

Category:MBTA bus routes Category:Transportation in Boston Category:Jamaica Plain, Boston