Who operates the 128 Business Council shuttles?
128 Business Council designs, negotiates and manages the shuttle programs listed on this website, and partners with independent vendors that operate the shuttle vehicles with our oversight. We are a non-profit 501(c)(4) organization.
Read more about our mission and history.
How is 128 Business Council funded?
128 Business Council is funded almost entirely by member companies committed to the economic viability of the Route 128 West region and beyond. Our members participate in shared routes, thereby providing a benefit for all who commute in the area. 128BC pools the funds of these companies to provide services that would otherwise be financially out of reach for a single company acting alone. However, it is a manifestation of our core values that the majority of our shuttle services remain open to the general public.
Riding 128BC Shuttles
What happens if I leave a personal item on the shuttle? Do you have a lost and found?
Our drivers check shuttles after each shift for personal items that riders have left behind, and they always let us know if they find anything. If you think that you’ve lost something on one of our vehicles, please fill out our Lost & Found form.
What happens if I take the shuttle to work in the morning, but have an emergency and have to leave midday when there is no shuttle available?
We offer a program to member riders called “Emergency Ride Home” (ERH), which provides commuters who use alternative transportation (including those who use our shuttles) with a guaranteed ride home in the event of an emergency.
Can I ride from my work to the station in the morning and then from the station to my work in the afternoon?
128 Business Council shuttle routes are designed to provide commuter service to and from MBTA stations and other hubs in accordance with common daytime work schedules, i.e. toward work in the morning and away from work in the afternoon.
Due to operational logistics*, we cannot guarantee the possibility of ‘reverse-direction travel’ for any of our routes.
While we cannot provide this service on a regular basis, we may, on a case-by-case basis, be able to accommodate reverse direction travel for a single trip on a single day. Please contact us at least one business day in advance for approval and scheduling.
If a reverse-direction trip is approved, the following policies apply: (1) You must pay the standard fare as applicable for your stop and member status. (2) Approval will only be given for a single trip. We cannot accommodate reverse-direction travel for multiple days at a time. (3) You will be instructed to be at the shuttle pick-up point 15-25 minutes in advance of shuttle’s expected arrival. (4) As soon as you arrive at your stop, you must contact Shuttle Dispatch [hyperlink] by phone to confirm your pick-up information. (4) The shuttle may need to make other scheduled stops en route to your destination.
*e.g. necessary routing constraints, shuttles being shared across multiple routes, scheduled breaks for our drivers, etc.
Do I need to call ahead for an evening pickup?
Check the page for your particular shuttle route to see the specific policies for boarding your vehicle in the evening.
Can I bring my dog on the shuttle?
Only certified service animals are allowed on 128 Business Council shuttles. We cannot allow pets otherwise, due to potential space constraints and allergy concerns.
Are your shuttles wheelchair accessible?
An accessible vehicle can always be made available with notice. Contact us at least 24 hours in advance so that we can ensure that one of our accessible (lift-equipped) vehicles is available for your trip.
Delays Due to Weather or Traffic Conditions
How can I find out about delays due to weather or heavy traffic conditions?
The most up-to-the-minute alerts about weather- or traffic-related delays are communicated via Tripshot, our rider app. You can also track your shuttle through the app (or use the Shuttle Tracker button located on the webpage for your particular shuttle route) to project your shuttle’s arrival time.
What is the policy for winter storms?
We have a whole section devoted to our Snow Policy.
Mobile Ticketing
I closed my active ticket screen!
Active tickets remain active for one hour. You can return to the active ticket screen by selecting “Wallet” from the main menu and then selecting “Tickets.”
I purchased the wrong fare or used the wrong ticket!
Contact us at 128bc@128bc.org and we will fix it.
Wait… so does this mean that the shuttle is no longer fare-free?
Check your route’s dedicated page under “Fares & Tickets” to check the status of fare collection on your route. We are currently in the process of resuming fare collection alongside the rollout of mobile ticketing across our system. Be sure to sign up for your route’s email list to receive updates.
Do I have to use the app to board the shuttle?
No, but we strongly recommend it. The app already allows you to plan your trips, track your shuttle, and set up departure-specific alerts. Once mobile ticketing launches on your route, using Tripshot Wallet will allow you to pay your fare with the least amount of hassle and at the lowest possible cost since 10-ride passes will only be available through the app.
Similarly, if you qualify for a reduced member fare through your employer, worksite, or other organizational affiliation, you will only be able to access this reduced fare by downloading the app and setting up an account that can be verified by your organization.
Do I have to set up an account?
Yes, you need to set up an account to use the app. In the past, you could use the app’s shuttle tracking and trip planning functions without setting up an account. However, now that we are relying on mobile ticketing, you need to set up an account to ensure that you cannot lose any purchased passes or uploaded funds.
What if I still have paper tickets?
If you still have paper tickets, you can use them up. However, no new paper tickets will be issued.
What if I just really, really prefer to pay in cash?
If you really want to pay in cash, you can still do so using your shuttle’s farebox. However, you will need to pay the full (non-member) fare and you will need to provide exact change. Shuttle operators will not carry any cash, change, or tickets.
REV Bus-Lexington Center fares will remain $1.00 per trip for both cash and mobile ticketing. However, again, cash fares can be paid with exact change only and 10-ride passes will only be sold through Tripshot Wallet.
I still have my 2020 shuttle ID card. Do I need it?
Nope! Moving forward, riders who qualify for a reduced member fare will access that reduced fare by setting up a Tripshot account and then being approved by their employer. So, you can throw those physical shuttle ID cards away!
The only exception to this is Vox on Two, which continues to use Vox on Two Shuttle ID cards for boarding.
How do I get approved for reduced member fares?
Only riders who are affiliated with a 128 Business Council member company (either because the member company is the rider’s employer or because the rider’s employer is a tenant of a member company) are eligible to ride on the reduced (member) fare.
If you haven’t done so already, download our rider app and set up your account—preferably using a work email address. (Reduced member fares are only available for purchase through the app.) Then watch for information from your member organization on how to be added to their approved rider list. We are working with each and every member organization directly to make sure this process happens smoothly!
If you do not hear from your member organization and do not know who the appropriate contact person is, please email us. We will connect you with your member representative who can approve your access to reduced member fares.
My employer pays the full cost of my shuttle rides. Do I still need to set up the app?
Yes! The only way to access reduced member fares, including free fares, is by setting up a Tripshot Wallet account—preferably using a work email address—that your member organization can approve.
However, depending upon how your member organization provides the free shuttle rides to you, you may not need to set up a preferred payment method in the app. You should receive further information directly from your member organization about how fare-free boarding will work for your organization’s affiliates.
If you have not heard from your member organization and do not know who the appropriate contact person is, please email us.
Fares & Membership
How much does it cost to ride the shuttle, and how do I pay?
We have begun rolling out Mobile Ticketing using Tripshot Wallet across our services, so watch for communications announcing the arrival of Mobile Ticketing on your route! If you are signed up for your route’s email list and have not heard about mobile ticketing or the resumption of fare collection, then the information below may not apply to you yet. Unsure? Check your route’s dedicated page under “Fares & Tickets”.
If your route has resumed fare collection, then you can pay your fare using our mobile app Tripshot (see above) or using exact cash.
Check the page for your particular shuttle route to see the specific fares and policies for boarding your vehicle.
Do I need a special ticket or ID card to ride the shuttle?
Check the page for your particular shuttle route to see the specific policies for boarding your vehicle.
How do I know if my company, residential community or office park is a member?
Ask your property manager, facilities manager, or human resources department. (You can also check this list, although you may qualify through your worksite’s developer rather than your employer and thus you should still ask around.) Or contact us.
Can I ride the shuttle even if my company or community is not a member of 128BC?
Yes! As long as the shuttle route is not marked “employees only” or “residents only,” that service is open to the general public.
Note that non-member riders must use the shuttle at an established stop. Go to the page for your particular shuttle route to view its stops.
The following shuttles are open only to eligible employees, residents, or affiliates: Cimpress, CityPoint, and Waltham Route A.
Which MBTA stations do 128BC shuttles connect with?
The Needham shuttle connects commuters from the Newton Highlands MBTA Station (Green Line D) with the Needham Crossing area.
Alewife Routes A-North, A-South, B, C, and D connect commuters from Alewife Station in Cambridge with various business corridors in Waltham and south Lexington. The REV Bus connects commuters from Alewife Station to Lexington Center and the Hartwell Avenue area of Lexington. Additionally, the Cimpress shuttle is a private shuttle route which is open to member affiliates only and which connects member riders to Alewife Station.
Waltham Route B connects riders from the Waltham Center Commuter Rail Station to the Winter Street area of Waltham. Additionally, Waltham Route A is a private shuttle route connecting employees only to the Waltham Center Commuter Rail Station.
What happens if I haven't set up mobile ticketing, forget my Shuttle ID card, or don't have cash for my fare?
We know life happens and sometimes you forget what you need. Don’t worry: You will not be denied a trip.
I have a CharlieCard. Can I use it for my shuttle fare?
No. If your route has resumed fare collection, then you can pay your fare using our mobile app Tripshot (see above) or using exact cash.