Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)

Note: This page is very early in development. Please send any comments or suggestions to me at the email address listed on the Index page.

The MBTA operates the public transit system for eastern Massachusetts. It is comprised of five Subway lines which consist of a combination of subway and trolley lines, bus lines, and the Commuter Rail system. Through a contractor the MBTA also operates “The Ride” for people who can not use the regular transit system due to “because of a physical, cognitive or mental disability”.

Currently the MBTA uses a mix of primarily UHF-T and some low band frequencies as follows. See the BAPERN section for MBTA Police frequencies.

Subway Lines
Red Line	470.4125
Orange Line	470.6125
Green Line	470.6375
Blue Line	470.6875
Silver Line	472.6375

Buses
North	472.5875
North	472.6375
South	472.6875      866.4500 simulcast
Inspectors	31.14R Crosspatched to 472.7375
Power Crews	44.46

PL Tone for all channels is 162.2

Commuter Rail North
Fitchburg Line North Station to Willows	160.320
Fitchburg Line Willows to North Station	161.160*
Lowell Line North Station to Bleachery	160.320
Lowell Line Bleachery to North Station	161.160*
Lowell Line Wildcat	160.320
Haverhill Line North Station to Lowell Jct	160.590
Haverhill Line Lowell Jct to Haverhill	161.160*
Newburyport Line	160.590
Rockport Line	160.590
North Side Yards	160.875
* Train to dispatch is 161.520

Commuter Rail South
Framingham Worcester Line	160.800
Needham Line	160.920
Franklin Line	160.920
Fairmount Line	160.920
Attleboro – Providence Line	160.920
Stoughton Line	160.920
Old Colony Lines	161.490
South Side Yards	160.070

The MBTA is in the process of building a new radio system. The system is being built by MA/Comm and reportedly will be an EDACS system with Pro Voice Digital Modulation. There have also been rumors that the system will be EDACS with analog voice. All MBTA operations, but not commuter rail, including police will be moved to the new system. It is expected that some UHF capability will be left in the tunnels for use by other public safety agencies.

0866.1750                               1              Data has been heard on this, probably part of the Automatic Vehicle Location system.

0866.2550                               2

0866.4250                               3

0866.4500                               4

0866.4750                               5

0866.9375                               6

0866.9625                               7

0866.9875                               8

0867.1750                               9

0867.2500                               10

0867.4750                               11

0867.6625                               12

0867.9375                               13

0867.9750                               14

0868.4250                               15

0868.6625                               16

0868.7250                               17

0868.9000                               18

0868.9250                               19

0868.9500                               20

0868.9750                               21