MBTA to Extend Route 55 Bus Hours in December

The transit agency will expand service for the bus route starting December 13 following years of community advocacy.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Civic Engagement

Isometric editorial illustration of a minimalist transit-stop structure on a clean urban corner, representing Boston's expanded bus service hours. — The MBTA will extend operating hours for the Route 55 bus to 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. beginning December 13, 2026. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you support increasing public transit service hours in your local community?

The MBTA will extend operating hours for the Route 55 bus to 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. beginning December 13, 2026. This change follows years of community pressure and feedback from the 2022 Bus Network Redesign Study.

Why it matters

The service expansion addresses long-standing advocacy from residents who pushed for better transit access in the area. The change marks a return to more robust service after years of reduced hours following pandemic-related suspensions.

The updated schedule features daily operation from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. with buses arriving every 45 to 50 minutes. This replaces the reduced 9:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. schedule implemented when the route was restored in June 2021.

The players

MBTA

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is the agency responsible for operating public transit services throughout the Greater Boston area.

The details

As part of the winter changes to the Better Bus Network, the MBTA is also implementing service updates for routes 74 and 75. The Route 55 bus, which currently terminates at Copley Square, will benefit from the new hours following a successful October 2025 rally involving nearly 30 community participants.

June 2021: Route 55 service was restored with limited hours.
October 2025: A rally for expanded bus hours took place.
October 14, 2026: A coalition met to discuss the service victory.
December 13, 2026: Extended bus service hours go into effect.

Political Context

Opponents of increased transit spending often argue that limited budget resources should be prioritized for higher-ridership corridors rather than smaller neighborhood routes. These groups frequently push for cost-benefit analyses that favor fleet maintenance over expanded service hours.

Commuters in West Fenway will gain significant flexibility in their daily travel schedules starting in mid-December. This change effectively restores transit access that was lost during the pandemic, allowing for earlier and later travel times on the route.

The takeaway

Reliable transit access is often secured through sustained community organization and public advocacy. Residents can track further service adjustments by following agency updates and participating in local transit planning committees.