Route 75 (MTA Maryland LocalLink)

Last updated
BaltimoreLink Logo.png LocalLink 75
MTA MARYLAND 5023.jpg
Overview
System Maryland Transit Administration
GarageBush
Statusactive
Began service1973
PredecessorsRoute 17
Bus Route 230
Route
LocaleBaltimore City
Anne Arundel County
Communities served Baltimore Highlands
Pumphrey
Linthicum
Hanover
Landmarks served BWI Airport
Arundel Mills
Other routes 14, 16, 51, 77, 99,
WMATA Bus Route B30
Howard Transit Silver route
Annapolis Transit
Service
LevelDaily
FrequencyEvery 60-80 minutes
Every 30-35 minutes (peak)
Weekend frequencyEvery 60 minutes
Operates24 hours a day [1]

LocalLink 75 is a bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore and its suburbs. The line currently runs from the Patapsco Light Rail Stop to Parkway Center in Anne Arundel County, via BWI Airport and Arundel Mills. Weekend trips and some weekday trips on this line terminate at Arundel Mills. The line operates between BWI Airport and downtown Baltimore during hours when the light rail is not operating. [2]

Contents

History

Route 75 is one of the most modified bus routes in MTA history from its original route. Only three of the 27 miles of its initial route in 1973 are still in place today. Much of its original route is not served by any public transportation, particularly portions along Maryland Route 177.

Its current route is actually the successor to several other bus routes no longer in operation. The route has seen a very fragile existence, facing a lot of budget cuts that have resulted in its route and schedule being reduced, and a near threat of elimination.

The current Route 17 started operating in 1973 between downtown Baltimore and Gibson Island. At that time, it served the Annapolis Road/Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard and Mountain Road corridors, mostly of Anne Arundel County. It also passed through the towns of Linthicum, Glen Burnie, and Pasadena.

The no. 17 designation was previously used for a streetcar that ran along the St. Paul Street corridor of Charles Village from 1893 to 1938. [3] In 1939, this was converted to a bus operation and extended south to Westport along Annapolis Road. [4] This route was replaced with other services in 1947. Another unrelated route briefly ran along East East Fayette Street 1949-50, the last Baltimore bus route to carry this designation until the introduction of the current Route 17. [5]

The route was shortened during the 1980s from Gibson Island to Lake Shore Plaza. Gibson Island became a private island, and the causeway leading there closed to the public, and ridership demand in this area was very low. Also, trips at certain times of day terminated at Pinewood Village in the Harundale area.

Route 17 did not serve BWI Airport until 1993. From 1973 to 1989, Route 16, which operated from downtown Baltimore to Odenton, provided service to BWI. This was replaced with Route 230 in 1989. Route 230 provided a limited number of express trips to the airport until the light rail was extended into Anne Arundel County in 1993, and local bus routes replaced the service. [6]

Opening of Central Light Rail

When the Central Light Rail line was opened in South Baltimore and Anne Arundel County, Route 17 underwent a series of changes in various phases.

In September 1992, the route was converted into a feeder bus into the light rail, and was truncated to the Patapsco Light Rail Stop. The portion going to downtown Baltimore was eliminated, though it was covered locally by Route 28. In addition, Sunday service was completely abolished. [7]

In January 1993, the route faced budget cuts. On weekdays, midday service between 9 AM and 2 PM, which had very low ridership was eliminated. [8] Saturday service was shortened to Pinewood Village. [9]

In September 1993, when the final stretch of the light rail opened, midday service was restored, as the route underwent even more changes, replacing the then-eliminated Route 230. It was modified to serve BWI Airport and the BWI business area and hotel district. The portion along Hammonds Ferry Road in Linthicum was provided on a new Route 12. Rush hour service operated to Lake Shore Plaza, and midday service only as far as the Cromwell Light Rail Stop.

Combining with Route 12 and cuts

In 1996, Route 17 faced its biggest cuts ever. All service between BWI Airport and Lake Shore Plaza was eliminated, as MTA would no longer serve some of these communities. Service to Pinewood Village was replaced with a new limited branch of Route 14, and service on Mountain Road was no longer provided. Other parts of Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard are within a close walk of various light rail stops. Route 17 line was also combined with Route 12 line and extended to Parkway Center, thereby providing all this service on a single route.

Extension to Arundel Mills

In 2001, with the opening of Arundel Mills mall in Hanover, Maryland, Route 17 was extended to this area. All trips to Parkway Center were routed via Arundel Mills, and all trips terminating at BWI Airport were extended there. In addition, Sunday service was added to serve the mall.

Threat of total elimination

In 2005, as part of the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative, MTA proposed to completely eliminate Route 17, except for a few trips between downtown Baltimore and BWI Airport when the light rail was not operating. [10] Under this plan, riders between the airport and Arundel Mills were instructed to use Howard County Transit's Red Express Route, which operates along nearly the same route in this area, and all other riders in Anne Arundel County would lose service. MTA stated that the underperforming route required a heavy taxpayer subsidy. [11]

The plan resulted in a public outcry from riders, businesses along the route, and community activists. One of the major complaints was that many non-English-speaking riders along the route who worked within the BWI hotel district would lose service and not even know it. [12] [13]

In 2006, MTA revised its plan for Route 17. Under the new routing plan, the line would continue to operate full-time, but from the Patapsco Light Rail Stop to Arundel Mills only, with service provided every 30 minutes during rush hour, and every 90 minutes at other times. Some of the deviations along the route where duplicate service is provided (such as to BWI Amtrak) would be eliminated or modified. Only riders west of Arundel Mills to Parkway Center would lose service.

In 2007, GBBI was canceled, and plans to eliminate or reduce service on this line were not made.

In 2009, branches to Airport 100 Business Park and SECU were eliminated. [14] [15]

In 2017, Route 17 became LocalLink Route 75 under BaltimoreLink. [16]

Related Research Articles

Maryland Transit Administration public transit authority of the state of Maryland

The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) is a state-operated mass transit administration in Maryland, and is part of the Maryland Department of Transportation. It is better known as MTA Maryland to avoid confusion with other cities' transit agencies who share the initials MTA. The MTA operates a comprehensive transit system throughout the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. There are 80 bus lines serving Baltimore's public transportation needs, along with other services that include the Light Rail, Metro Subway, and MARC Train. With nearly half the population of Baltimore residents lacking access to a car, the MTA is an important part of the regional transit picture. The system has many connections to other transit agencies of Central Maryland, Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, and south-central Pennsylvania : WMATA, Charm City Circulator, Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland, Annapolis Transit, Rabbit Transit, Ride-On, and TransIT.

BWI Rail Station railway station near Baltimore-Washington International Airport

BWI Airport Station is an intermodal passenger station in Linthicum, Maryland near Baltimore–Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). It is served by Amtrak Northeast Corridor intercity trains, MARC Penn Line regional rail trains, and several local bus lines.

Hanover, Maryland Unincorporated community in Maryland, United States

Hanover is an unincorporated community in the Baltimore/Annapolis area in northwestern Anne Arundel County and eastern Howard County in the U.S. state of Maryland, located south of Baltimore.

Baltimore Metro SubwayLink rapid transit system of Baltimore, Maryland

The Metro SubwayLink, known locally as the Metro Subway, The Subway, or the Baltimore Metro, is a rapid transit line serving the greater area of Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States, and operated by the Maryland Transit Administration. Despite its name, less than half of the line is underground; most of the line outside the central city is elevated or at surface grade.

Baltimore Light RailLink rail transit system serving Baltimore

Light RailLink is a light rail system serving Baltimore, Maryland, United States, as well as its surrounding suburbs. It is operated by the Maryland Transit Administration. In downtown Baltimore, it uses city streets. Outside the central portions of the city, the line is built on private rights-of-way, mostly from the defunct Northern Central Railway, Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad and Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Electric Railway.

Route 93 (MTA Maryland LocalLink)

LocalLink 93 is a bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration in the suburbs of Baltimore. The line currently runs from the Lutherville Light Rail Stop to International Circle near Hunt Valley Town Center, serving the Timonium and Cockeysville areas.

Route 14 (MTA Maryland)

Route 14 is a bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration between Baltimore and Annapolis, Maryland. At most times, the line operates from the Patapsco Light Rail Stop in southern Baltimore with short turns at Jumper's Hole in Pasadena. The bus route, one of the longest local routes operated by MTA, is the successor to the Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad interurban, and mainly operates along the parallel Ritchie Highway, serving Brooklyn Park, Glen Burnie, Pasadena, and Severna Park. When the Light Rail is not running, Route 14 runs all the way to downtown Baltimore, mostly along Hanover Street.

CityLink Red (MTA Maryland)

CityLink Red is a citylink bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore and its suburbs. The line currently runs from the University of Maryland Transit Center to the Lutherville Light Rail Stop along the corridors of York Road and Greenmount Avenue, and is one of the most heavily used MTA bus lines. The CityLink Red bus replaced Route 8 bus route due to BaltimoreLink, and is the successor to the 8 Towson and 7 Govanstown streetcar lines.

Route 95 (MTA Maryland LocalLink)

LocalLink 95 is a bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore. The line currently runs from the intersection of Roland Avenue and Lake Avenue in Roland Park south to the Inner Harbor via Roland Avenue, University Parkway, Charles Street and St. Paul Street.

Route 13 (MTA Maryland) bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore

Route 13 is a bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore. The line currently runs from Walbrook Junction in West Baltimore to Canton, mostly along North Avenue. The line has two main branches, both operating to Canton: one that operates via Fells Point and the other via Linwood and East Streets. Both these branches serve Johns Hopkins Hospital. Additionally, selected trips on weekdays and Saturdays operate to the block of Milton Avenue, Federal Street, and Patterson Park Avenue.

Route 64 (MTA Maryland)

Route 64 is a bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore and its suburbs. The line currently runs from the intersection of North Avenue and St. Paul Street to Curtis Bay, with selected trips to Energy Parkway and Riviera Beach. The line also serves Federal Hill, Port Covington, and Brooklyn.

Route 77 (MTA Maryland) bus route in Baltimore, Maryland and its suburbs

Route 77 is a bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration in the suburbs of Baltimore. The line currently runs from the Old Court Metro Subway Station in Pikesville, Maryland to the Patapsco Light Rail Stop, and serves Randallstown, Windsor Mill, Woodlawn, Catonsville, Arbutus, Halethorpe, and Lansdowne, and the campuses of UMBC and CCBC Catonsville.

Route 51 (MTA Maryland)

Route 51 is a bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore and its suburbs. The line 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, and the suburb of Baltimore Highlands.

Route 29 (MTA Maryland LocalLink)

LocalLink 29 is a bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore. The line currently runs from the Mondawmin Metro Subway Station in Northwest Baltimore to Brooklyn Homes in South Baltimore through the communities of Rosemont and the corridors of Hilton Street, Caton Avenue, and Patapsco Avenue. During peak hours, selected trips operate via Violetville Industrial Park.

Route 29 (MTA Maryland)

Route 29 is a bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore. The line currently operates weekdays and Saturdays in a circular fashion, linking the Cherry Hill Light Rail Stop to the Cherry Hill community. Two other MTA bus lines, Routes 27 and 51, also serve the Cherry Hill area.

Route 150 (MTA Maryland)

Express BusLink 150 is a bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore, Ellicott City, and Columbia, Maryland. The line currently operates between the Village of Harper's Choice in Columbia and Harbor East, mostly via US-29 and US-40, serving The Mall in Columbia and Catonsville.

Greenbelt–BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport Express Line Express bus route between the Washington Metros Greenbelt station and BWI Airport

The Greenbelt–BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport Express Line, designated Route B30, is a weekday-only bus route operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and the Greenbelt Metro Station of the Green Line of the Washington Metro. The line operates every 70 minutes five days a week along the Baltimore-Washington Parkway between these two locations with no intermediate stops, with the exception of the BWI Business District Light Rail Stop, and Arundel Mills Mall and the last bus leaving BWI at 10:09 pm. The trip is approximately 50 minutes long.

UMBC Transit is the official bus system of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Along with the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), the UMBC community has public transit access to nearby areas such as Catonsville, Arbutus, Maryland, and Baltimore City.

BWI Business District Business District in Maryland, United States

The BWI Business District is a neighborhood and business district in Linthicum and Hanover that features over 11,000 hotel rooms and numerous office parks and shopping centers. As the name suggests, the business district is benefited by nearby Baltimore-Washington International Airport.

References

  1. "17 Local Bus Schedule, 2009" (PDF). Maryland Metro Transit Association. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
  2. Barbara Radcliffe Rogers and Stillman Rogers (2001). Baltimore & the Chesapeake Bay. Edison, NJ: Hunter Publishing, Inc. p. 174. ISBN   1-58843-120-7.
  3. "Routes 10-19a". Baltimore Transit Routes: 1900 to today. Baltimore Transit Company Archives. Archived from the original on June 1, 2002. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  4. "17 Rail Map .gif". Baltimore Transit Archives, BTCO.net. Archived from the original on 2012-03-10. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
  5. Adam Paul. "Obscure Routes and Operations in Baltimore Transit". Btco.net. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  6. MTA June 1993 schedule changes
  7. MTA September 1992 schedule changes
  8. November 1992 hearings on MTA cutbacks
  9. MTA January 1993 schedule changes
  10. "Highlights of proposed bus route changes". latimes.com. 2005-06-09. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  11. "Taxpayer subsidies for MTA routes". baltimoresun.com. 2005-06-14. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  12. Song, Jason (2005-06-09). "Word of bus changes isn't reaching Latino riders". latimes.com. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  13. Word of bus changes isn't reaching Latino riders - Social Issues, Maryland, Metropolitan Transportation Authority - baltimoresun.com
  14. "Mta To Add Downtown Express - Baltimore Sun". Articles.baltimoresun.com. 2009-08-19. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  15. https://web.archive.org/web/20090813140736/http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/bus/routes/bus/schedule_changes/. Archived from the original on August 13, 2009. Retrieved September 9, 2009.Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. http://baltimorelink.com/routes/route-17