FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

 

Pilot Service on Routes QuickLink 40, LocalLink 73 to Become Permanent

 

BALTIMORE, MD (August 23, 2024) – The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration is announcing its Fall 2024 service changes, focusing on improving reliability and connectivity for riders. The changes take effect Sunday, August 25, and follow a series of public hearings and a 30-day public review and comment period. The popular QuickLink40 will become a permanent service option as it reduces east-west travel times in Baltimore and provides better connections to housing, employment centers and shopping destinations.  

 

“Our service changes are guided by extensive internal analysis and public feedback.” said Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold. “These adjustments are designed to create a more efficient, reliable and enjoyable service for our riders.”

 

A summary of other Local Bus Service Enhancements follows:
 

LocalLink 73

• To provide service to the new employment center at Wagner’s Point, LocalLink 73 service will provide a one-seat ride from State Center in downtown Baltimore to Wagner’s Point via Patapsco Avenue. There will be no changes to frequencies or span of service.

 

LocalLink 85

• To improve connections to Light Rail from northwest Baltimore, LocalLink 85 will extend to the North Avenue Light Rail Station. The stop at Druid Hill Avenue and Retreat Street would be discontinued. Stops at Fulton Avenue & Reisterstown Road (#8554) and Druid Hill Avenue & Retreat Street (#12520) will be discontinued. Instead, the route will turn from Pennsylvania Avenue onto North Avenue and continue to the North Avenue Light Rail station. There will be no changes to frequencies or span of service.

 

LocalLink 67

• To improve access and close a gap in service during the late morning, LocalLink 67 will run without interruption seven days a week from downtown Baltimore to Marley Neck. Outside of the added late morning service, daily hours of service will not be affected.

 

Express BusLink 105

• To reduce crowding, additional trips will be added during the morning and evening peak periods. There are no changes to weekday span of service.

 

A summary of Local Bus Service Modifications – Operational Adjustments follows:
 

CityLink Silver

• To improve reliability, CityLink Silver will continue operating along Light Street from S. Charles Street through the Federal Hill neighborhood on a permanent basis. Riders who previously used Charles Street & Henrietta Street (#117) and Charles Street & Ostend Street (#114) can access stops two blocks east. There will be no changes to frequency or span of service.

 

CityLink Lime

• Trips currently ending at Druid Hill Park will now end at Pennsylvania Avenue & Clifton Avenue. CityLink Lime will no longer use the stop at Cloverdale Road and McCulloh Street (#764) due to conflicts with freight loading operations.  There will be no changes to frequency or span of service.

 

LocalLink 71

• Due to changes in the street alignment, LocalLink 71 will be realigned to run along Mission Boulevard in the Baltimore Peninsula. All trips would run along Mission Boulevard in the Peninsula and continue to Patapsco Light Rail Station.

 

LocalLink 63 and Express BusLink 163

• Due to construction at the current stop, the final stop on LocalLink 63 and Express BusLink 163 at Tradepoint Atlantic Royal Farms will be moved to a new location on Bethlehem Boulevard. Both routes will continue to serve both sides of Tradepoint Atlantic on all trips.

 

 LocalLink 59 and Express BusLink 160
 

• To improve pedestrian safety, LocalLink 59 and Express BusLink160 will start/end at the eastbound stop at Eastern Avenue and Tidewater Lane (#7621). The westbound stop at Eastern Avenue and Tidewater Lane (#7561) will be discontinued due to unsafe conditions for pedestrians crossing at the intersection. Both routes will continue to serve the stop at Eastern Avenue and Biscayne Bay Boulevard

 

For additional details on the Fall 2024 service changes, visit mta.maryland.gov/fall2024 or call the Transit Information Contact Center at 410-539-5000. The Maryland Transit Administration reminds riders that CharmFlex 3- and 10-day passes offer riders a flexible fare option when traveling only a few times a week or on non-consecutive days. CharmFlex is available only on the CharmPass mobile ticketing app.

 

The Maryland Transit Administration is one of the largest multi-modal transit systems in the United States, and operates Local Bus, Commuter Bus, Light Rail, Metro Subway, MARC Train Service and a comprehensive Mobility paratransit system. The goal of the Maryland Transit Administration is to provide safe, efficient, reliable transit across Maryland with world-class customer service. To learn more, visit mta.maryland.gov, check us out on Facebook at facebook.com/mtamaryland and follow us on X @mtamaryland.
 

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Courtney Mims
Office: 410-767-8367
Cell: 667-392-0157
cmims@mdot.maryland.gov

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

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