Route 42 Bus Schedule: Times, Stops & Map
42 bus schedule is not one national timetable. Route 42 can mean SEPTA in Philadelphia, MBTA in Boston, MTA B42 in Brooklyn, StanRTA in Modesto, SamTrans in San Mateo County, Pierce Transit in Tacoma, or another local agency.
This upgraded guide helps riders identify the correct Route 42, check official times, fare, stops, route map, service status, live arrivals, accessibility, and transfer rules before leaving for the stop.
What Was Missing in the Previous Route 42 Article?
The earlier article had good visuals, but it needed more factual filtering. A stronger bus-schedule page must not just collect Route 42 links; it must tell riders which result is active, which result is city-specific, which result is school-oriented, and which result should not be used anymore.
There Is No Single “Route 42 Bus Schedule”
Route 42 is reused by multiple transit agencies. The correct timetable depends on your city, transit operator, direction, stop, service day, live-arrival tool, fare system, and current service alerts. Search results can also show old or discontinued Route 42 pages, so always check the official agency page before traveling.
Start with where you are boarding, not just the number 42.
SEPTA, MBTA, MTA, StanRTA, SamTrans, Pierce Transit, or another operator.
Confirm active, discontinued, school-only, weekday, or weekend service.
Use the destination sign, terminal, platform, bay, or stop side.
Live arrivals can change because of traffic, detours, or cancellations.
Route 42 Bus Schedule Guide
Which Route 42 Bus Are You Looking For?
Use this section to identify the correct Route 42 before checking times. Open the official source, select travel date, choose direction, and verify your exact stop or timepoint.
SEPTA Route 42 — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
SEPTA Route 42 serves Center City and West Philadelphia, with service between 2nd-Spruce and Wycombe or 61st-Pine. The official current PDF shows an effective date of February 22, 2026.
Rider tip: check whether your bus is going to Wycombe, 61st-Pine, or 2nd-Spruce. The same route number has different endpoint context.
MBTA Route 42 — Boston, Massachusetts
MBTA Route 42 is listed as Forest Hills Station – Nubian Station. It is a local bus route, so riders should use the MBTA route page for direction, stop, alerts, and live location context.
Rider tip: Forest Hills is a major transfer point. Check whether your connection involves Orange Line, another bus route, or walking from a specific stop bay.
MTA B42 — Brooklyn, New York
MTA New York City Transit publishes B42 Canarsie Pier – Rockaway Parkway Station via Rockaway Parkway. This is a Brooklyn B-prefix route, not a generic “Route 42.”
Rider tip: the B42 timetable shows key timepoints only. Use MTA Bus Time or the MTA App to locate the nearest exact stop and view estimated arrivals.
StanRTA Route 42 — Modesto, California
StanRTA Route 42 travels from Modesto Transit Center through South 9th Street / Crows Landing corridor stops toward Service & Mitchell, with weekday, Saturday, and Sunday tables.
Rider tip: weekday outbound service begins earlier than weekend service. The first published weekday outbound trip leaves Modesto Transit Center at 5:45 AM and reaches Service & Mitchell at 6:28 AM.
SamTrans Route 42 — San Mateo County, California
SamTrans Route 42 is listed as Pacifica – Parkside Intermediate School. It is a school-oriented route, so it should not be treated like an all-day frequent urban bus.
Rider tip: confirm school calendar, AM/PM direction, and whether the route serves your school stop on the date you travel.
Pierce Transit Route 42 McKinley Ave — Tacoma, Washington
Pierce Transit Route 42 is the McKinley Ave route. The official route page shows timepoints between 72nd St Transit Center, McKinley Ave, and Commerce St Station.
Rider tip: Pierce Transit advises riders to arrive at the stop at least 5 minutes early. This is a useful rule for most local Route 42 services.
COAST Route 42 Pease Shuttle — Discontinued Result
COAST Route 42 may still appear in search results, but the official page says the last day of Route 42 was Friday, October 3, 2025. After that date, do not use Route 42 as a current Pease Shuttle schedule.
Rider tip: if you need Great Bay Community College, Pease Airline Terminal, or New Hampshire Ave service, check the current COAST Route 40 page instead of old Route 42 information.
Do Not Use an Old Route 42 Page Without Checking Status
The most important upgrade in this article is status filtering. Some Route 42 pages are active, some are school-oriented, and at least one common official result is discontinued.
| Route 42 result | Status to verify | What riders should do |
|---|---|---|
| SEPTA Route 42 | Use current PDF | Confirm endpoint: 2nd-Spruce, Wycombe, or 61st-Pine. Check SEPTA app or real-time tools before travel. |
| MBTA Route 42 | Use official route page | Confirm direction between Forest Hills Station and Nubian Station and check bus alerts. |
| MTA B42 | Use B42, not plain 42 | Use MTA Bus Time or MTA App because the PDF lists key timepoints, not every stop. |
| StanRTA Route 42 | Use weekday/weekend table | Check whether you need outbound from Modesto Transit Center or inbound toward Downtown Modesto. |
| SamTrans Route 42 | School-oriented | Confirm school schedule, AM/PM direction, and school-year service before relying on it. |
| COAST Route 42 | Discontinued after Oct. 3, 2025 | Use current COAST Route 40 information for GBCC, Pease Airline Terminal, and New Hampshire Ave corridor service. |
How to Read Route 42 Times Correctly
Route 42 timing changes by agency, direction, stop, weekday, Saturday, Sunday, school-day pattern, holiday, traffic, detours, and exact boarding point. Never use another city’s Route 42 timetable for your trip.
| Route 42 example | What the official source shows | Timing guidance | When to arrive |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEPTA 42 Philadelphia | 2nd-Spruce to Wycombe or 61st-Pine; current PDF effective February 22, 2026; weekday 30-minutes-or-less service from 6 AM to 9 PM. | Confirm exact direction and endpoint. Use the PDF plus SEPTA real-time tools for your actual stop. | Arrive 5–10 minutes early; more if transferring in Center City. |
| MBTA 42 Boston | Forest Hills Station to Nubian Station route page, schedule, map, and alerts. | Use MBTA route page and trip planner by stop because bus stop and rail transfer walking time can matter. | Arrive 5–10 minutes early; allow extra time for Orange Line or bus transfers. |
| MTA B42 Brooklyn | Canarsie Pier to Rockaway Parkway Station via Rockaway Parkway; PDF effective June 29, 2025. | The PDF says timetables show key stops only. Use MTA Bus Time or MTA App for nearest-stop estimated arrivals. | Arrive 5–10 minutes early and recheck Bus Time shortly before leaving. |
| StanRTA 42 Modesto | Weekday, Saturday, and Sunday tables between Modesto Transit Center and Service & Mitchell. | Weekday first outbound leaves Modesto Transit Center at 5:45 AM and reaches Service & Mitchell at 6:28 AM; weekend starts later. | Arrive 5–10 minutes early and use Where’s My Bus. |
| SamTrans 42 | Pacifica to Parkside Intermediate School; school-oriented service resumed in the August 2, 2026 schedule set. | Confirm AM/PM school pattern, bell-time changes, and current PDF before travel. | Arrive 10–15 minutes early for school-oriented trips. |
| Pierce Transit 42 | 72nd St Transit Center, McKinley Ave, and Commerce St Station timepoints. | Published weekend examples show hourly-style timepoints, so missing a bus can mean a long wait. | Pierce Transit advises at least 5 minutes early; use 10 minutes if unfamiliar. |
Route 42 Ticket Price Depends on the Agency
There is no national Route 42 fare. Ticket price, cash rules, transfer benefits, day passes, reduced fares, mobile tickets, and fare-card discounts are controlled by the agency operating your bus.
SEPTA Key or contactless payment may provide transfer benefits in the published window. Cash riders should use exact fare and verify transfer rules.
MBTA local bus fare can be paid with CharlieCard, CharlieTicket, contactless payment where available, or cash. Exact payment is safest on board.
Use OMNY/contactless, OMNY card, or accepted fare media. For transfer benefits, use the same card or device for each tap.
StanRTA lists youth, veterans, active military, half-fare programs, passes, and Token Transit mobile ticketing options.
SamTrans fare pages show cash and Clipper pricing, with free 2-hour transfers between local routes when using Clipper or SamTrans Mobile.
Pierce Transit also lists ORCA LIFT and RRFP discounted fares at $1.00 and youth 18 and under as free.
COAST Route 42 is not a current 2026 Route 42 schedule. If using replacement corridor service, check Route 40 and COAST’s current fare page.
Fare belongs to the operator, not the route number.
Card, app, contactless, ticket, fare card, or exact cash.
Transfer windows depend on agency and payment type.
Youth, senior, disability, student, military, or low-income rules vary.
Load fare before the bus arrives to avoid delays.
Route 42 Stops: Confirm the Correct Direction
Route number alone is not enough. You must confirm the destination sign, stop side, stop ID, endpoint, branch, platform, bus bay, school pattern, and service day before boarding.
Example Map: Forest Hills Station for MBTA Route 42
This map is included as a practical terminal example because MBTA Route 42 uses Forest Hills Station as a major endpoint. For SEPTA, MTA B42, StanRTA, SamTrans, Pierce Transit, or another Route 42, open that agency’s official map and stop locator for the correct terminal, stop side, or bus bay.
- Confirm the agency before using any map.
- Check whether you need inbound, outbound, northbound, southbound, or a named destination.
- Use the official stop ID, platform, bay, or timepoint where published.
- Use Google Maps for walking navigation only; the transit agency controls the schedule.
Scheduled Time vs Live Arrival
Scheduled time is the planned timetable. Live arrival is a same-day prediction based on vehicle location or real-time information where available. Traffic, detours, cancellations, weather, events, school dismissal traffic, driver availability, and GPS problems can change live arrival.
Use the official or agency-endorsed live bus tool.
Check whether it is 42, B42, or another local variant.
Match the bus headsign, terminal, or destination.
Use stop name, stop ID, nearby landmark, platform, or map pin.
Check again before leaving because predictions can change.
Check Route 42 Alerts Before You Leave
Service alerts can change the stop location, route path, departure bay, travel time, or whether a school-oriented trip runs. Always check the agency alert page on the same day you travel.
Accessibility Details to Check
Accessibility is both route-specific and stop-specific. A route may use accessible buses, but a stop can still be affected by curb conditions, snow, construction, slope, sidewalk blockage, shelter access, or temporary relocation.
Route 42 Boarding Checklist
- Confirm your city and transit agency.
- Check whether your result is active, discontinued, or school-oriented.
- Open the official Route 42 or B42 page, not only a search snippet.
- Select today’s travel date and service day.
- Choose the correct direction or destination sign.
- Find your exact stop name, stop ID, timepoint, platform, or bus bay.
- Check ticket price and accepted payment method.
- Check transfer rules before paying cash.
- Check live arrival shortly before leaving.
- Arrive 5–10 minutes early; use 10–15 minutes for terminals, hourly service, or school trips.
Official Route 42 Sources
Use these official pages to confirm current schedules, fares, maps, live arrivals, alerts, and accessibility. Third-party pages can help with discovery, but the operating agency controls current rider information.
Official Route 42 timetable for 2nd-Spruce to Wycombe or 61st-Pine, including effective date, service frequency note, and timepoints.
Open SEPTA Route 42 PDFSEPTA Key, contactless payment, pay-per-ride fares, transfer window, passes, senior fare, and reduced fare information.
Open SEPTA faresOfficial MBTA schedule and map page for Forest Hills Station to Nubian Station.
Open MBTA Route 42Local bus fare, CharlieCard, CharlieTicket, contactless payment, cash payment, and transfer information.
Open MBTA bus faresOfficial B42 Canarsie Pier to Rockaway Parkway Station timetable, route notes, holiday schedule note, and MTA Bus Time guidance.
Open MTA B42 timetableOfficial MTA live bus tool for estimated arrivals and stop-specific real-time checks.
Open MTA Bus TimeOfficial Route 42 page with weekday, Saturday, and Sunday inbound/outbound timepoint tables.
Open StanRTA Route 42Fixed-route fares, half-fare programs, passes, youth fare programs, veterans/active military notes, and Token Transit mobile ticketing.
Open StanRTA faresOfficial Route 42 source for the Pacifica to Parkside Intermediate School school-oriented route.
Open SamTrans Route 42School-oriented route schedule updates, cash fare, Clipper fare, mobile app, Day Pass, and transfer information.
Open SamTrans schedulesOfficial route page with timepoints, Saturday/Sunday examples, fares, park-and-ride note, trip planner, and boarding guidance.
Open Pierce Transit Route 42Official source explaining Route 42 was discontinued after October 3, 2025 and pointing riders toward current replacement corridor service.
Open COAST Route 42 noticeRoute 42 Bus Schedule FAQs
What is the Route 42 bus schedule?
There is no single Route 42 bus schedule. The correct timetable depends on the city and transit agency, such as SEPTA in Philadelphia, MBTA in Boston, MTA B42 in Brooklyn, StanRTA in Modesto, SamTrans in San Mateo County, Pierce Transit in Tacoma, or another local operator.
How do I find the correct 42 bus schedule?
Start with your city, then confirm the agency, route name, direction, service day, stop ID or timepoint, official schedule, fare page, alerts, and live bus tracker.
Is Route 42 the same in every city?
No. Route numbers are reused by many transit agencies. SEPTA Route 42, MBTA Route 42, MTA B42, StanRTA Route 42, SamTrans Route 42, and Pierce Transit Route 42 are different services.
Is COAST Route 42 still running?
No, COAST’s official Route 42 page says the last day of Route 42 was Friday, October 3, 2025. Riders looking for GBCC, Pease Airline Terminal, or New Hampshire Ave service should check current COAST Route 40 information.
What time does Route 42 start?
Start time depends on the agency, terminal, direction, and day. For example, StanRTA Route 42 has an early weekday outbound trip from Modesto Transit Center, while SamTrans Route 42 is school-oriented and should be checked against school-day service.
What time is the last Route 42 bus?
The last bus depends on your exact route, direction, stop, weekday, Saturday, Sunday, holiday, and branch or school pattern. Always check the official route page for your actual boarding stop.
How much is the Route 42 bus fare?
Fare depends on the agency. Example fares include SEPTA Bus and Metro at $2.90, MBTA local bus at $1.70, MTA local bus at $3.00, StanRTA fixed-route all-day fare/pass at $2.00, SamTrans adult cash fare at $2.25, and Pierce Transit adult fare at $2.00.
Can I pay cash on Route 42?
Some agencies accept cash, but rules vary. Cash may require exact fare and may not provide the same transfer benefits as SEPTA Key, CharlieCard, OMNY, Clipper, ORCA, or mobile ticketing.
Where can I see live Route 42 arrival times?
Use the official or agency-endorsed live tool, such as SEPTA real-time tools, MBTA route pages, MTA Bus Time, StanRTA Where’s My Bus, SamTrans real-time/trip-planning tools, or Pierce Transit trip-planning tools.
How early should I arrive for Route 42?
Arrive 5–10 minutes early for most local Route 42 buses. Use 10–15 minutes for terminals, school-oriented service, unfamiliar stops, hourly routes, transfers, bad weather, or when buying or loading fare.