Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 161A § 47
Any of the 51 cities and towns and other served communities may for the purpose of providing local bus service enter into agreements with any person lawfully authorized to operate any motor bus on any public way therein for the carrying of passengers for hire. Said city, town or community shall have the same powers and duties in respect to such private bus carriers as are provided by law for the department of telecommunications and energy, except as to safety of equipment and operations, schedules, and routes not being, however, considered safety of equipment and operations for purposes of this paragraph; provided that the authority shall be notified of the establishment of any such contract local service, but shall not have control or jurisdiction over said service.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 161A, § 47