No. 26 Line

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This article describes a former bus line of the Maryland Transit Administration. Information provided here is derived from old schedules and other archived resources.

The no. 26 line was an express bus line operated by the Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore, Maryland and its suburbs between 1976 and 1993. From 1993 to 1996, the line was converted to a feeder bus until its total elimination.

Previously, the no. 26 line was a streetcar that operated between downtown Baltimore and Sparrows Point from 1926 to 1959. In its final year of operation, the service was converted into a bus line. It was then combined with the No. 10 Line.

Currently, there are no MTA services designated as the no. 26 line.

[edit] Providence Road Park-and-Ride

In 1976, MTA introduced the no. 26 express bus that operated out of the Providence Road Park-and-Ride lot, located just north of exit 28 off of I-695. Buses operated from there through various communities in the Towson area before entering the beltway, the traveled along I-83 until they reached downtown Baltimore. During most of the line's life, about six trips operated downtown from the park-and-ride lot every weekday morning, and six trips returned every afternoon.

In June 1992, shortly after the Central Light Rail line opened, the number of trips on this line was reduced to three in each direction. MTA assumed that many of the no. 26 line's riders would instead use the light rail, and very much encouraged such a switch.

Later in 1992, MTA announced that all the remaining trips on the no. 26 line were proposed for elimination. Most of the remaining riders, who did not wish to drive a little farther to the light rail attempted to fight this cut. MTA responded by converting the no. 26 line to a feeder bus that shuttled passengers from the Providence Road Park-and-Ride lot to the Lutherville Light Rail Stop along a similar route. Only two AM and two PM trips were provided. This line had very low ridership, and in 1996, the service was discontinued.

[edit] No. 26 Streetcar

The no. 26 line was a streetcar that operated between downtown Baltimore and Sparrows point along a route very similar to the current No. 10 Line. The service started operating in 1903 under the no. 24 designation, and was renamed to no. 26 in 1926.

In 1950, the route of the no. 26 streetcar was shortened to Highlandtown, and the line became a Sparrows Point to Highlandtown shuttle. Service on the remainder of the route was provided by the no. 10 streetcar.

In 1958, the no. 26 streetcar was converted into a rubber tire bus operation. A year later, the service was absorbed by the no. 10 line, which continued to provide bus service to Sparrows Point until 2005.

Currently, no MTA services operate to Sparrows Point.