MBTA bus routes in Melrose, Reading, Stoneham, and Wakefield

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) operates local buses in the Boston suburbs of Melrose, Stoneham, and Wakefield. All bus routes running through these communities connect at either the Oak Grove or Malden Center Orange Line subway station, and various MBTA Commuter Rail stations.

106

The 106 Franklin Sq. or Lebanon St. - Wellington Station provides a route between Franklin Square in Melrose and Wellington station in Medford. Major areas and key destinations this line serves include Downtown Melrose, Melrose-Wakefield Hospital, Maplewood Square in Malden, and Malden Center. It provides connections to other MBTA lines at Malden Center and Wellington, both connecting to the Orange Line.^[1]

130 (defunct)

The 130 Lebanon St. - Malden Center is a now defunct bus route which ran from Lebanon St. in Melrose to Malden Center. The route was discontinued when the 106 was extended part-time to Franklin Sq. in Melrose. The Lebanon St. to Malden Center portion of 106 was nearly identical to the route of the 130. Minimal service was lost with the removal of this route.^[1]

131

The 131 Melrose Highlands - Oak Grove or Malden Center provides service to the Highlands, Downtown, and East Side areas of Melrose. The northern terminus of the route is at Warren and Franklin Streets in Melrose Highlands. The southern terminus of the route is Malden Center, however, rush hour buses terminate at Oak Grove to provide more frequent service. The route provides connections to the MBTA Commuter Rail at Melrose Highlands Station as well as the Orange line at Oak Grove and Malden Center.^[1] There has been a question of whether this route should be extended from its current route to the Square One Mall in Saugus. As of 2008 the MBTA has made no commitment to extend the route mainly due to the inconvenience many rush hour commuters would experience with such an extension and also a lack of resources. As of now, anyone desiring service to Square One Mall from Melrose can take any bus to Malden Station and transfer the route 430. According to the MBTA's trip planner, this trip will take approximately 70 minutes.

132

The 132 Redstone - Malden Center Station provides service to the Stoneham area, connecting the town to Orange line rail service. The northern terminus is at the Redstone Shopping Center in Stoneham. The route runs along Route 28 and turns through Melrose connecting to the MBTA Commuter rail at Wyoming Hill Station and enters Malden connecting to the Orange line at Oak Grove and Malden Center.^[1]

135 (defunct)

The 135 Wakefield Square - Oak Grove Station via Wakefield, Greenwood Square & Main Street Melrose formerly provided service from Oak Grove Station on the Melrose/Malden border to Wakefield Square. This route is identical to the 136 and 137, the only difference being that it terminated in Wakefield Square, where the 136 and 137 split. The MBTA decided in 2004 that they would take the 135 footnote off the 136/137 schedule and redesignate the route as a short-turn variant of the 136.^[1]

136/137

The 136 and 137 Malden Center Station - Reading Depot Station jointly provide service down Main Street between Wakefield Center and Malden. North of Wakefield center, the two lines split; the 137 travels on the west side of Lake Quannapowitt while the 136 travels on the east side.^[1] When the Orange Line was relocated from the old elevated line to the present configuration, there was intent to extend the Orange Line to Reading Depot via Melrose & Wakefield. However, due to the disapproval of some residents, the project was put on hold. The 136 and 137 took the place of the intended extension, which is shelved for the foreseeable future.

136

The 136 Reading Depot - Malden Center Station via Melrose & Oak Grove provides service to Reading, Wakefield, Melrose and Malden and connects with Oak Grove Station and Malden Center Station. The 136 route is almost identical to the 137; it remains the same until the split at Wakefield Square. The 136 route runs along the east side of Lake Quannapowitt and rejoins the 137 at Reading Depot & the Reading/Haverhill Commuter Rail Line.^[1]

137

The 137 Reading Depot - Malden Center Station via North Ave, Wakefield, Melrose & Oak Grove provides service to Reading, Wakefield, Melrose and Malden and connects with Oak Grove Station and Malden Center Station. The 137 route is almost identical to the 136; it remains the same until the split at Wakefield Square. The 137 runs along the left side of lake Quannapowitt via North Avenue, Wakefield and Walkers Brook Drive, Reading and rejoins the 136 at Reading Depot & the Reading/Haverhill Commuter Rail Line. With the exception of rush hour and late nights, the 137 runs approximately every hour.^[1] Passengers south of Wakefield Square may use either the 136 or the 137 and effectively have a bus every thirty minutes.

430

The 430 Saugus Center - Malden Center Station via Square One Mall provides service between Saugus Center and Malden Center Station travelling through Melrose on MA Route 99 (Newburyport Turnpike) in the southeast section of the city.^[1]

References

1. Belcher, Jonathan (27 December 2014). "Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA district" (PDF). NETransit. Retrieved 29 January 2015.

External links

• MBTA Website