MTA Maryland crosstown buses
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Historically, the Maryland Transit Administration and its parents companies have geared their services toward the commuter who travels from a neighborhood in the outer parts of town or the suburbs to downtown, and most routes have operated radially from the downtown area, with the exception of a few routes that operated near the downtown area, and had streetcar origins. In more recent generations, however, areas away from downtown have become more developed, resulting in the need for the creation of crosstown bus routes that do not enter the downtown area.
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[edit] Crosstown bus routes in Baltimore
[edit] Route 13
[edit] Route 16
Route 16 currently runs from the Mondawmin Metro Subway Station in Northwest Baltimore to Brooklyn Homes in South Baltimore through Rosemont (serving Coppin State College) and the corridors of Hilton Street, Caton Avenue, and Patapsco Avenue.
The line was introduced in 2000 when Route 22 was split. Route 22 had a very long route, and only selected trips operated along Route 16's route. Due to the length and confusion among riders, MTA decided that Route 16 service should be provided on a separate line.
When Route 16 started, rush hour service operated every 30 minutes, and service at all other times was provided hourly. Sunday service along the route, which had not been provided Route 22, was introduced.
In 2005, MTA proposed not only to double the frequency, but to modify the route in the Rosemont area to serve the Poplar Grove area. After riders complained that the new route would not serve Coppin State College, a slight change was made to this modification. To this day, the route of Route 16 is yet to have changed, but in October 2006, the frequency was doubled as planned (except on Sundays).
[edit] Route 21
[edit] Route 22
Route 22 currently operates between the Mondawmin Metro Subway Station and Bayview Medical Center, serving the communities of Television Hill (and the Woodberry Light Rail Stop), Hampden, Homewood (location of Johns Hopkins University), Waverly, Belair-Edison, and Highlandtown.
Route 22 started operating in 1947 as the successor to Route S, which operated along a similar route starting in 1937[1]. In 1971, selected trips were extended through Southwest Baltimore along a route similar to today's Route 16. These trips were split onto a separate line (Route 16) in 2000 in order to simplify an improve service.
In 2006, as part of the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative, the frequency of service on Route 22 was nearly doubled at most times to provide improved crosstown service, though the route of the line was not changed.
[edit] Route 33
Route 33 currently runs from the Rogers Avenue Metro Subway Station in Northwest Baltimore to the Essex Park-and-Ride in eastern Baltimore County, with short turns looping at Moravia. Service is provided about once every 20 minutes during rush hour and midday, every 50 minutes on Saturdays, and every 75 minutes on Sundays. The line operates primarily along the Coldspring Lane and Moravia Road cross-town corridor, and serves Arlington, Lower Park Heights, Roland Park, Homeland, and Montebello. The line passes several universities, including Loyola College, Notre Dame, and Morgan State University.
Route 33 started operating in 1977 [2]. At that time, it was introduced as an experimental service, with expectations that it would not be successful. It ran on weekdays only during rush hour and midday, and there was no evening or weekend service. Its route was from Arlington to Morgan State only.
About a year later, the line was seen as somewhat of a success. Service was extended during rush hour to the current Moravia loop, and middays to Montebello State Hospital.
The line saw no further improvements until 1986. During that year, evening and Saturday service were added. On weekdays, the line operate until 10 PM, and on Saturdays, intervals were 90 minutes, the most service allowable with a single bus.
In 1993, the line was improved again. All trips were extended to the Moravia loop, and midday service was improved from intervals of 50 to 35 minutes. Evening hours were extended to midnight, and Saturday service was doubled to intervals of 45 minutes.
In 1995, Sunday service on this line was added, though it operated only once every 90 minutes, the previous Saturday frequency.
In 2005, as part of the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative, the line saw an unplanned extension. Originally, no routing changes were announced for Route 33. Only frequency improvements were planned. But with a public outcry in response to the elimination of certain branches on other lines, Route 33 was extended to provide bus service in those communities. The new eastern terminus became Eastpoint Mall, as new service was provided to the Armistead Gardens community, the North Point Boulevard corridor, and a new cross-town connection to other routes. Ironically, this resulted in a slight reduction in service frequency except on Sundays. Rush hour service was dropped from 15 to 20 minutes, middays service from 35 to 40 minutes, and Saturday service from 45 to 50 minutes. Sunday service was improved from 90 to 75 minutes.
Three months later, the route was extended again about a mile to the Essex Park-and-Ride lot in order to improve efficiency in looping.
Late in 2006, MTA addressed some of the frequency reduction concerns by doubling midday service to one bus every 20 minutes. New trips that were added use the old Moravia loop rather than continuing to Essex.
[edit] Route 44
Route 44 currently runs from Rosedale Industrial Park near Pulaski Highway just outside of the Baltimore city limits to Security Square Mall, with selected peak hour trips to the Social Security Administration. Some early morning trips before 7 AM layover at CMS. The line operates across the northern part of the city, mostly on Northern Parkway and Belvedere Avenue, serving Gardenville, Hamilton, Belvedere Park, Homeland, Roland Park, Pimlico, and Arlington, and the suburb of Woodlawn.
Route 44 is the successor to Bus Route D, which operated before Northern Parkway was built.
Route 44 started operating in 1946. The line operated during most of its existence from the Gwynn Oak Park loop in Woodlawn to the Hollander Ridge housing projects in East Baltimore. Extensions have been made to accommodate new developments in the city and suburbs, including most notably, the Social Security Administration's Woodlawn headquarters, which opened in 1960.
In 1973, a new branch was added to the line, which operated to Brighton, serving the Reisterstown Road Plaza and the Cross Country community. These trips operated on weekdays and Saturdays very minimally, usually less than once an hour.
In 2001, the Hollander Ridge terminus was relocated to Rosedale Industrial Park with the demolition of the Hollander Ridge projects.
In 2005, as part of the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative, all Gwynn Oak trips on the line were extended to Security Square Mall, as the line absorbed Route M-6. The frequency was increased, and the Brighton Branch was eliminated. Though service was not provided on the exact distinct streets served by the Brighton branch, riders were within a close walk of Route M-10.
There was also consideration to reroute Route 44 line to serve the Mt. Washington Light Rail Stop, but this plan was later dropped because buses would take longer to travel crosstown, and finding a route was difficult because certain left turns in the Sinai Hospital area are prohibited.
The overhaul of Route 44, which took effect on October 23, 2005, was not greeted well. Most of those who complained about the changes were upset about the elimination of Route M-6, which operated from the Rogers Avenue Metro Subway Station to the Security Boulevard area. Others complained that the longer route had lower reliability.
MTA responded these complaints by implementing a limited number of M-6 trips in March 2006, and returning Route M-6 to full-time status on October 8 of the same year while not diminishing the Route 44's level of service.
[edit] Route 51
Route 51 currently runs from the Rogers Avenue Metro Subway Station to the Patapsco Light Rail Stop, serving the communities of Arlington, Ashburton, Mondawmin, Rosemont, Baltimore, Cherry Hill, and Mt. Winans.
Route 51 is the successor to Bus Route D, which operated from 1923 to 1948 along a portion of the current route [3]. It started operating in 1948 along portions of the current route. In 1984, in conjunction with the opening of the Baltimore Metro Subway, the route was modified to serve three stations. The line also had selected trips added to Cherry Hill.
In 2001, Route 51 was combined with Route 30, and all trips, except for those operating to Cherry Hill, were extended to the Patapsco Light Rail Stop via Hollins Ferry Road (Mt. Winans) and Baltimore Highlands. Cherry Hill trips were also extended to Patapsco along Hanover Street and Patapsco Avenue.
In 2005, as part of the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative, MTA initially proposed to eliminated the Cherry Hill branch and increase the level of service to Mt. Winans. In 2006, a proposal was also made to extend the route north to the Reisterstown Plaza Metro Subway Station to replace a portion of Route 27, which was proposed for elimination, and eliminate some of the deviations into other Metro stations to make up for the extra distance.
The elimination of Cherry Hill trips was scrapped due to public outcry, and all changes to this route are yet to be implemented.
[edit] Suburband cross county bus routes
[edit] Route 4
Route 4 currently runs from the Essex campus of the Community College of Baltimore County to Turner's Station in Dundalk.
The line started operating in 1971 between Eastpoint Mall and Dundalk, with southbound trips operating along North Point Road and Wise Avenue, and northbound trips operating along Merritt Boulevard. Later, selected trips were added to Ft. Howard Veterans Hospital, but these were eliminated in 1993. At that time, service on the line was reduced to one bus every 70 minutes.
In 2000, MTA extended Route 4 from Eastpoint Mall to White Marsh Mall through Essex and Rosedale, and south from the Dundalk loop to Turner's Station, and the route was slightly modified to serve the CCBC Dundalk campus. For the first time, single-seat bus service became available between the two CCBC east-side campuses.
In addition to these extensions, the frequency of service was improved. Rush hour service operated every 40 minutes, and off-peak service hourly. Selected trips also served the Yellow Brick Road industrial Park in Golden Ring.
Service along the original part of the route remain unchanged. Northbound trips continued to follow the Merritt Boulevard corridor, while southbound trips used North Point Road and Wise Avenue, requiring riders to change buses on the same line to return to the area they originally left.
In 2005, as part of the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative, MTA announced that Route 4 would undergo major changes, which included:
- Shortening the north end of the route. Its original planned terminus was Franklin Square Hospital, but this was later changed to the CCBC Essex Campus. Riders wishing to reach White Marsh are directed to transfer to Route 35.
- Northbound trips were to be modified to operated via the southbound route of North Point Road and Wise Avenue. No bus service was provided in the Merritt Boulevard area, and riders wishing to reach this area were directed to walk up to a mile to Eastpoint Mall or Wise Avenue.
- Trips via Yellow Brick Road Industrial Park were eliminated. MTA stated that only 11 riders used this branch daily, requiring of taxpayer subsidy of $5.28 each [4]. In early 2006, a small number of these trips returned to service.
- Rush hour service was reduced to one bus an hour, which became the frequency at all times. Route 4 line now alternates buses with Route 24, providing more efficient service on both lines. When a Route 4 bus reaches the CCBC Essex campus, the next trip made by the vehicle will be as Route 24, and visa versa.
[edit] Route 55
Route 55 currently runs from Greater Baltimore Medical Center in Towson to Fox Ridge, serving Parkville, Overlea, Rosedale, and Essex.
Route 55 started operating in 1973 between Overlea and Towson, with branches via Joppa Road and Taylor Avenue, and to Hunt Valley. A year later, as the Route 9 was introduced, the Hunt Valley service on this line was truncated to Towson [5].
In 1977, Route 55 was combined with Route 2, which had operated limited service between Overlea and Fox Ridge. For the next 20 years, the line operated from the Towson area to Franklin Square Hospital, with selected trips, mostly during rush hour, continuing to Fox Ridge. Express trips to the Essex area from Towson were also introduced, but were eliminated in 1992.
In 1997, all trips were extended to Fox Ridge.
In 1998, two daily trips which operated via Taylor Avenue through Parkville were discontinued.
In 2005, as part of the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative, it was proposed that Route 55 would operated every 30 minutes versus the present 40, and Sunday service would be introduced. This plan was later delayed due to public outcry over changes to other routes.
In 2006, under a revision, MTA made plans for Route 55 to loop at the Towson Courthouse rather than GBMC, and for service on the remainder of the route to be provided on other lines. These changes are yet to be implemented, but on October 8, 2006, Sunday service was introduced, reflecting this new routing. The routing changes were reintroduced in 2007 for 2008, and have received public outcry over transfers that would be required to reach Towson University and area hospitals.
Route 55 also came into the news in November 2007 when a bus struck and killed a woman near the intersection of Belair Road and Fullerton Avenue, killing her. The six passengers on board the bus reported hearing a "thump."[6].
[edit] Route 77
Route 77 currently runs from the Old Court Metro Subway Station in Pikesville, Maryland to the Patapsco Light Rail Stop in South Baltimore, and serves Randallstown, Windsor Mill, Woodlawn, Catonsville, Arbutus, Halethorpe, and Landsdowne, and the campuses of UMBC and CCBC Catonsville (formerly Catonsville Community College).
Route 77 was one of the first cross-county bus lines in Baltimore County, Maryland. It started operating in 1974 as an experimental service, originating from the central business district of Pikesville, and terminating at UMBC. At that time, service was provided on weekdays only, with rush hour service operating only once every 40 minutes and midday service provided every 50 minutes. The line, which was designed to provide service for the students of UMBC and Catonsville Community College, and had its schedule coordinated to the classes of these two institutions, did not provide service out of Pikesville before 6:30 AM or UMBC before 7:30 AM. Within the decades that followed, the line performed above expectations, drawing riders from far beyond the college crowd, and proving that a cross-county (suburb-to-suburb) bus route could succeed in the Baltimore area.
In 1987, in conjunction with the opening of the Old Court Metro Subway Station, and the extension of Route M-2 to this location, the station also became the new northern terminus for Route 77. Some trips operated along the old route to Pikesville during a period of time when Old Court Station was closed at night. This portion was discontinued in 2005[7].
In 1995, selected trips were extended south of UMBC to the Patapsco Light Rail Stop through the Halethorpe area, providing improved connections. The frequency was also slightly improved.
In 1997, Saturday service was added. At first, it operated only between Old Court and Security Square Mall, but it was later extended to UMBC. Sunday service was added in 2001.
In 2005, as part of the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative, all trips were extended to the Patapsco Light Rail Stop, and the route was slightly changed to replace a portion of Route 31, which was merged into other routes. Midday and Saturday service was increased to one bus every 30 minutes.
[edit] External links
- Route 4 Schedule
- Map of Route 16
- Weekday schedule of Route 16
- Route 22 Schedule
- Route 33 schedule
- Route 44 schedule
- Route 55 schedule
- Route 77 schedule
- Route 51 schedule
[edit] References
- ^ Routes of Baltimore Transit - 1900 to Today
- ^ History of the Cold Spring Crosstowns
- ^ Routes of Baltimore Transit - 1900 to Today
- ^ Taxpayer subsidies for MTA routes - Politics, Maryland, Metropolitan Transportation Authority - baltimoresun.com
- ^ Routes of Baltimore Transit - 1900 to Today
- ^ http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_county/bal-mta1110,0,3133389.story?coll=bal_sports_basketball_xpromo
- ^ Owings Mills Times
