Agency Seeks Feedback Through Public Hearings and Comment Period

BALTIMORE, MD (May 11, 2023) – The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration today released its fall 2023 Service Change Proposal, which focuses on increasing access and improving connections to jobs and retail locations across the network and adapts service to meet changing rider needs. The final fall schedule changes are proposed to take effect Sunday, August 27.

 

Whether for daily commutes or special events, Maryland Transit Administration bus ridership has seen steady growth and, as of March, is at 82% of pre-pandemic levels. The agency will hold hearings in June on the proposal to gather important feedback from riders and stakeholders about these proposed changes to improve access and system reliability. 

 

“The agency is committed to building stronger connections with and for our riders, especially as travel patterns continue to evolve,” said Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold. “The proposed changes are designed to better support existing riders and attract new riders with more efficient service offerings.”

 

The proposed fall service change includes alignment modifications to improve efficiency, reliability and on-time performance. The full draft of the fall 2023 service proposal is available on the website at www.mta.maryland.gov/fall2023 as well as in the lobby of the Maryland Transit Administration headquarters 6 St. Paul St., Baltimore.

 

A summary of the Fall Local Bus route changes follows:

Service Enhancements

 

• LocalLink 77, LocalLink32, and LocalLink 37 

This proposal would provide additional connections from Edmondson Village to retail locations along US-40 and improve transit connections between Catonsville and Patapsco. 

 

• CityLink Brown and LocalLink 33

To improve the reliability of the CityLink Brown this proposal would have the CityLink Brown terminate at Overlea. Alternate service between Overlea and White Marsh Mall would be provided by extending the LocalLink 33. 

• CityLink Yellow

To improve reliability and travel times, this plan would shift alignment of CityLink Yellow in downtown Baltimore from Guilford and Fallsway to Eutaw Street. Connections to downtown would be possible via CityLinks Blue, Orange, Red, Navy and other intersecting routes.

• CityLink Navy

To improve access and connections to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, the proposal includes terminating some CityLink Navy trips at Bayview. All other trips would continue to operate to Watersedge. 

• CityLink Lime

To improve reliability for riders along Liberty Avenue and improve access from Pimlico to downtown, this proposal would replace CityLink Lime service between Druid Hill Park and Harbor East with service on Local Link 91.

• LocalLink 85 and LocalLink 81

To improve access to destinations along Park Heights Avenue, the proposal recommends discontinuing LocalLink 81, with service provided by LocalLink 85 operating between Deer Park and West Cold Spring.

 

Service Modifications – Operational Adjustments:

• CityLink Silver

To improve reliability, the proposal would have all southbound trips operate via Hanover Street between West Lee Street and Ft. Avenue. No changes are proposed to northbound operations along Charles Street.

• Express Bus 105

Due to the redesign of the City Hall bus stops, all southbound Express Bus 105 trips are proposed to operate along Pleasant to Guilford to Fayette. 

• LocalLink 93

Due to private property constraints, the temporary layover for the northbound end of LocalLink 93 at International Drive will be made permanent.

 

The public comment period is open now through July 17, and the Maryland Transit Administration will hold a combination of in-person and virtual hearings to collect feedback on the proposal. In-person hearings will be held:

• Wednesday, June 14, noon to 2 p.m., Center of Architecture and Design, 100 N. Charles St., Ste P101, Baltimore, MD 21201,
• Wednesday, June 14, 5 to 7 p.m., Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville, Mathematics and Science Hall, 800 S, Rolling Road, Catonsville, MD 21228, and
• Thursday, June 15, 5 to 7 p.m., North Point Branch, Baltimore County Library, 1716 Merritt Blvd., Dundalk, MD 21222.

 

In addition, two virtual public hearings will be held:

• Thursday, June 15, noon to 2 p.m., and
• Saturday, June 17, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

 

Information on how to participate in the virtual hearings as well as the various ways to submit a comment is available on the website. Riders needing additional information can call the Transit Information Contact Center at 410-539-5000.

 

The Maryland Transit Administration is one of the largest multi-modal transit systems in the United States, operating Local Bus service, Commuter Bus, Light Rail, Metro Subway, MARC Train Service and a comprehensive Mobility paratransit system. The agency’s goal is to provide safe, efficient and reliable transit across Maryland with world-class customer service. To learn more, visit https://www.mta.maryland.gov, facebook.com/mtamaryland,  YouTube.com/TheMTAMaryland and follow us on Twitter @mtamaryland.

 

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jerimiah Moerke                               
Office: 410-767-8367                         
Cell: 667-392-3625
jmoerke@mdot.maryland.gov

Paul Shepard
Office: 410-767-3935
Cell: 443-622-4181
pshepard@mdot.maryland.gov    

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