The Evolution of Baltimore's Mass Transit

The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), as we know it today, has a deep-rooted history that stretches back over a century. Originally known as the Baltimore Metropolitan Transit Authority, the agency was later renamed the Maryland Mass Transit Administration before adopting its current title in October 2001. Its journey from a streetcar-dominated system to a modern network of buses, light rail, and metro services reflects the evolving transportation needs of the region.

A Shift from Private to Public Transit

The MTA officially took over operations from the Baltimore Transit Company (BTCO) on April 30, 1970, marking a major shift from private to state-operated mass transit. BTCO itself had been a dominant force in the city’s transit landscape since 1935, following the era of the United Railways and Electric Company, which was established in 1899 to consolidate Baltimore’s streetcar lines.

Throughout much of the early 20th century, streetcars were the backbone of public transit in Baltimore. Many of the current MTA bus routes are rooted in these original streetcar lines that served the city from the 1890s through the 1960s. Over time, the increasing popularity of automobiles and changing urban dynamics led to a decline in ridership. The once-vast streetcar system was gradually dismantled, with the last streetcar making its final run in 1963.

The Great American Streetcar Scandal and BTCO’s Legacy

The decline of streetcars in Baltimore was hastened by the National City Lines takeover in 1948, part of what is now referred to as the Great American Streetcar Scandal. The company aggressively promoted buses as a lower-maintenance, more flexible alternative. By November 3, 1963, the final two lines, Route 8 (Catonsville to Towson) and Route 15 (Overlea to Walbrook Junction), were retired.

BTCO also operated trackless trolleys (trolley buses) on six lines between 1940 and 1959. In one notable moment during the Civil Rights Movement, the company fired a bus driver identified as the Grand Wizard of the local Ku Klux Klan. The firing was upheld by a labor arbitrator after other drivers threatened to strike.

Absorbing Private Transit Lines

Over the years, the MTA absorbed several smaller transit companies:

• Old Court Bus Lines: Provided van service in northwest Baltimore County; some areas are now served by Route 60 to Stevenson University.
• Rosedale Passenger Lines: Focused on eastern Baltimore County; parts of its service live on in Routes 4 and 23.
• Dundalk Bus Lines: Served southeastern Baltimore County from 1940 to 1972; today, Route 4 covers some of its territory.
• McMahon Services: Ran buses in northeast Baltimore County; Route 19A (later Route 105) was discontinued in 2005.
• Job Express Transit: Its Route H became the #7 Rosewood Express, then Route 102, and later part of Route M-17 before being eliminated in 2009.
• Auxiliary Bus Lines: Operated what is now Route 51.

Rail Transit Returns

Although Baltimore lost its streetcar network, rail made a comeback with the Metro Subway opening in 1983 and Light Rail launching in 1992. While modern rail lines don’t mirror the old streetcar routes exactly, they represent a renewed commitment to rail transit in the city.

BaltimoreLink Redesign

In June 2017, the MTA launched a major overhaul of its bus system called BaltimoreLink, streamlining routes, renaming services, and aiming to improve overall reliability and efficiency across the region. For example, Route 25—operating along the Baltimore Streetcar Museum’s historic track—was renamed LocalLink 25.

Preserving History

The Baltimore Streetcar Museum now keeps the memory of the city’s streetcar era alive, offering rides on restored vehicles and showcasing Baltimore’s unique 5 ft 4½ in track gauge—now obsolete outside of the museum.

From its streetcar beginnings to the current multi-modal transit system, the MTA’s evolution mirrors the growth and challenges of a changing Baltimore. The agency continues to adapt, connecting communities while honoring its rich transportation heritage.

Your Local Routes Prior to June 2017

Route 1

Terminus: Sinai Hospital (NB), Mondawmin station (NB), Fort McHenry (SB)

Major Streets: Greenspring Ave, Fulton Ave, Fort Ave

Places Served: Coldspring-Newtown, Druid Hill Park, Mondawmin, Sandtown-Winchester, Baltimore Arena, Inner Harbor, Federal Hill

Corridor Line: Greenspring Ave/Fulton Ave-Fort McHenry Line

Replaced by: LocalLink 91, 94, CityLink Navy

Route 3

Terminus: Cromwell Bridge Rd Park & Ride (NB), Sheppard Pratt (NB), Taylor Avenue (NB), Inner Harbor (SB)

Major Streets: Loch Raven Blvd, 33rd St, Charles St, St. Paul St

Places Served: Loch Raven, Eudowood, Ramblewood, Good Samaritan Hospital, Union Memorial Hospital, Waverly, Johns Hopkins University, Charles Village, Penn Station, Mt. Vernon, Baltimore Arena

Corridor Line: Charles St-33rd St-Loch Raven Blvd Line

Replaced by: CityLink Silver, Green; LocalLink 53

Route 4

Terminus: CCBC Essex (NB), Turner’s Station (SB)

Major Streets: Rossville Blvd, Eastern Ave, North Point Rd, Wise Ave

Places Served: Franklin Square Hospital Center, Golden Ring Plaza, Middle River, Essex, Eastpoint Mall, CCBC Dundalk, North Point, Dundalk

Corridor Line: Dundalk-Eastern Ave-Essex Line

Replaced by: LocalLink 62

Route 5

Terminus: Mondawmin station (WB), Federal Street (EB), Cedonia (EB)

Major Streets: Druid Hill Ave/McCulloh St, Eutaw St, Fayette/Baltimore St, Federal St, Sinclair Ln

Places Served: Reservoir Hill, Madison Park, Lexington Market, Baltimore Arena, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Collington Square, Moravia

Corridor Line: Druid Hill-Sinclair Ln Line

Replaced by: CityLink Yellow, Purple, Pink

Route 7

Terminus: Mondawmin station (WB), Canton (EB)

Major Streets: Pennsylvania Ave, Paca/Greene St, Pratt/Lombard St

Places Served: Upton, UMB, Oriole Park, Inner Harbor, National Aquarium, Little Italy, Butcher’s Hill, Patterson Park

Corridor Line: Pennsylvania Ave-Canton Line

Replaced by: LocalLink 65, 73; CityLink Lime

Route 8

Terminus: Lutherville station (NB), North Ave (NB & SB), UMB Transit Center (SB)

Major Streets: Greenmount Ave/York Rd, Fayette/Baltimore St

Places Served: Goucher College, Towson Town Center, Towson, Towson University, Belvedere Square, Senator Theater, Govans, Waverly, First Mariner Arena

Corridor Line: Greenmount Ave-York Rd Line

Replaced by: CityLink Red

Route 9

Terminus: Lutherville station (NB), International Circle (SB)

Major Streets: York Rd, Deereco Rd, Warren Rd, McCormick Rd

Places Served: Timonium station, Timonium Fairgrounds, Cockeysville, Warren Road station, McCormick Industrial Park, Hunt Valley Town Center

Corridor Line: Hunt Valley Line

Replaced by: LocalLink 93

Route 10

Terminus: Catonsville (WB), Dundalk & Center Pl (EB), Bullneck (EB)

Major Streets: Frederick Rd, Pratt/Lombard St, Eastern Ave, Dundalk Ave

Places Served: Yale Heights, Pigtown, B&O Railroad Museum, Inner Harbor, National Aquarium, Little Italy, Fells Point, Patterson Park, Highlandtown, Turner’s Station

Corridor Line: Frederick Ave-Eastern Ave Line

Replaced by: CityLink Purple, Navy

Route 11

Terminus: Towson Town Center (NB), Bedford Square (NB), Inner Harbor Layover (SB)

Major Streets: Charles St, Bellona Ave, Pratt/Lombard St

Places Served: Towson Courthouse, Towson University, Rodgers Forge, Homeland, Loyola College, NDMU, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore Museum of Art, Charles Village, Penn Station, Mt. Vernon, Washington Monument, Baltimore Arena, Convention Center, Inner Harbor

Corridor Line: Charles St Line

Replaced by: LocalLink 51

Route 12

Terminus: Kirk Avenue Division (SB), Stella Maris (NB)

Major Streets: Greenmount Ave/York Rd, Dulaney Valley Rd

Places Served: Towson, Hampton, Goucher College

Corridor Line: Greenmount Ave-York Rd Line

Replaced by: LocalLink 52

Route 13

Terminus: Walbrook Junction (WB), North Ave & Patterson Park Ave (EB), Canton (EB)

Major Streets: North Ave, Washington/Wolfe St

Places Served: Coppin State College, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Penn-North station, North Avenue station, Great Blacks in Wax Museum

Corridor Line: North Ave-Canton Line (Crosstown)

Replaced by: CityLink Gold, LocalLink 21

Route 14

Terminus: Patapsco station (NB), Jumpers Hole (SB), Annapolis (SB)

Major Streets: Patapsco Ave, Ritchie Hwy, Crain Hwy, Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd

Places Served: Brooklyn Park, Glen Burnie, Harundale, Pasadena, Severna Park, MVA Headquarters, Cromwell station (now Glen Burnie), Arundel Medical Center, Marley Station Mall, AACC, U.S. Naval Academy

Corridor Line: Ritchie Hwy Line

Replaced by: LocalLink 69, 70

Route 15

Terminus: Security Square Mall (WB), Walbrook Junction (WB), Westview Mall (WB), Rutherford Business Park (WB), Gardenville (EB), Overlea (EB), Perry Hall (EB)

Major Streets: Security Blvd, Windsor Mill Rd, Forest Park Ave, Poplar Grove St, Edmondson Ave, Saratoga St, Belair Rd

Places Served: Social Security, Woodlawn, Lorraine, Kernan Hospital, Forest Park, Rosemont, Belair-Edison, Gardenville, Fullerton, Windsor Hills

Corridor Line: Windsor Hills-Saratoga St-Belair Rd Line

Replaced by: CityLink Brown, LocalLink 34, 79, 80

(This list can be expanded similarly for all other routes.)

Neighborhood Shuttle Bug Routes Prior to June 2017

Route 97

Terminus: Mondawmin station

Major Streets: Liberty Heights Avenue, Coldspring Lane, Park Heights Avenue, Reisterstown Road, North Avenue, Gwynns Falls Parkway

Places Served: BCCC Liberty campus, Arlington, Park Heights, Coppin State University, Walbrook, Mondawmin

Replaced by: LocalLink 82

Route 98

Terminus: Woodberry station

Major Streets: Roland Avenue, 41st Street, Keswick Avenue

Places Served: Hampden, The Rotunda

Replaced by: LocalLink 21

Shuttle and Circulator Routes Prior to June 2017

Route 29 (Cherry Hill Shuttle)

Terminus: Cherry Hill (counter-clockwise)

Major Streets: Cherry Hill Road, Waterview Avenue

Places Served: Cherry Hill Light Rail Stop, Cherry Hill Multi-purpose center, Harbor Hospital Center

Frequency: 20 min peak/off-peak

Replaced by: LocalLink 26, LocalLink 71

Route 50 (Belair-Erdman Shuttle)

Terminus: Mannasota Avenue & Mayfield Avenue (clockwise)

Major Streets: Mannasota Avenue, Bowleys Lane, Sinclair Lane, Chesterfield Avenue, Clifmont Avenue, Mayfield

Places Served: Herring Run Park, Parkside Shopping Center, Claremont Senior Homes

Frequency: 20–40 min

Replaced by: LocalLink 57

School Supplementary Routes Prior to June 2017

Route 18

Terminus: Glen Avenue & Key Avenue (SB), Velvet Valley (NB), Copper Ridge (EB), Scotts Hill (WB)

Major Streets: Park Heights Avenue, Old Court Road, Smith Avenue, Cross Country Boulevard, Glen Avenue

Places Served: Cheswolde, Bonnie Ridge, Pikesville, Old Court station

Replaced by: LocalLink 92

Route 38

Terminus: North Bend (WB), Grandview Road & Coldspring Lane (EB)

Major Streets: Edmondson Avenue, Poplar Grove Street, Liberty Heights Avenue, Greenspring Avenue, Coldspring Lane

Places Served: Edmondson Village, Rosemont, Walbrook, Windsor Hills, Forest Park, BCCC Liberty Campus, Park Circle, Druid Hill Park, Cold Spring Lane station

Replaced by: LocalLink 38

Local Express Routes Prior to June 2017

Route 103 (Formerly 3X)

Terminus: Inner Harbor (IB), Cromwell Bridge Park & Ride (OB)

Major Streets: Loch Raven Boulevard, Charles Street, St. Paul Street

Places Served: Loch Raven, Eudowood, Ramblewood, Good Samaritan Hospital, Penn Station, Mt. Vernon

Corridor Line: Loch Raven Blvd (Express) Line

Route 105 (Formerly 5X)

Terminus: Downtown (IB), Cedonia (OB)

Major Streets: Eutaw Street, Fayette/Baltimore Streets, Monument/Madison Street, Sinclair Lane

Places Served: Lexington Market, Baltimore Arena, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Moravia Road

Corridor Line: Johns Hopkins Hospital-Sinclair Ln (Express) Line

(More express routes follow similar format.)

QuickBus Routes Prior to June 2017

Route qb40

Terminus: CMS Headquarters (WB), Downtown City Hall Selected Trips (EB), Middle River (EB)

Major Streets: Security Blvd/Cooks Ln, Edmondson Avenue, U.S. Route 40, Fayette/Baltimore Streets, Eastern Avenue

Places Served: Social Security, Woodlawn, Edmondson Village, West Baltimore station, UMB, Baltimore Arena, Shot Tower, Patterson Park, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Eastpoint Mall, Essex Park & Ride

Corridor Line: U.S. Route 40-Eastern Ave (Limited-Stop) Line

Replaced by: CityLink Blue, Orange

Route qb46

Terminus: Paradise Loop (WB), Cedonia (EB)

Major Streets: Frederick Road, Pratt/Lombard Streets, Baltimore Street, Federal Street, Sinclair Lane

Places Served: Yale Heights, Pigtown, B&O Railroad Museum, Baltimore Arena, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Collington Square, Moravia

Corridor Line: Frederick Ave-Sinclair Ln (Limited-Stop) Line

Replaced by: CityLink Purple, Pink

The Evolution of Baltimore’s Mass Transit: From Streetcars to the MTA  was originally published on wolbbaltimore.com