MTA Maryland bus service
The Maryland Transit Administration provides the primary public bus service for the Baltimore metropolitan area and commuter bus service in other parts of the state of Maryland. There are currently 76 bus routes, which include 43 LocalLink routes, 12 High Frequency CityLink Routes routes, 9 express bus routes, 19 commuter bus routes, and 5 Intercounty Connector or "ICC" routes. The local and commuter bus routes operate in conjunction with one subway line, three light rail lines, MARC train service, and various connections to other transit agencies.
Operation
The MTA's bus service operates throughout the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area and other parts of the state. These include: 12 City Link High Frequency Color Routes. In addition to LocalLink routes 21 through 95; Express BusLink routes 103, 104, 105, 115, 120, 150, 154, 160, and 164; Intercounty Connector routes 201 through 205; Commuter bus routes 310 through 995.https://mta.maryland.gov/local-bus
Local buses
In June 2017 as part of MD Gov. Larry Hogan's initiative to have a better transit system in Baltimore he launched Baltimore Link.Local bus lines are identified with a one- or two-digit number. Many of the numerical designations have origins dating back to the days of the Baltimore streetcars and share the route numbers of the respective streetcars that operated along the same streets.
Most local buses operate regular service seven days a week throughout most hours of the day and evening. Some routes operate 24 hours. A small number of routes operate without evening service, on weekdays only, during peak hours only, or only at the times needed for certain employers.
Until 2009, a series of routes operated in the northwest part of the city and suburbs known as Metro connection buses. These routes had designations of the letter M followed by a number, and operated from a Metro station to a specified location or between two Metro stations. When the Metro connection bus service began in 1984, it used designations beginning with the letter M, R, or P, followed by a number. After the Metro was extended to Owings Mills in 1987, only the letter M was used, and it denoted "Metro."
Since 1988, the number of M-lines had declined, as many of them were consolidated, and some were completely eliminated. After the first phase of the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative took effect in 2005, only seven M-lines remained, though this increased to eight after Route M-6 was restored months later.
Throughout 2008 and 2009, all M-lines were renamed to plain two-digit numerical designations, ranging from 52 to 54 and 56 to 60. During this series of revisions, route changes were also made to some of them, including merging some, splitting others, and completely eliminating part of Route M-17 without any replacement.
Express, Commuter, and Intercounty Connector buses
The MTA's express routes should not be confused with the "express" trips assigned to several of the local bus routes. Express routes are dedicated to providing rapid service by limiting the number of stops along the route. The number of express routes has declined over the past two decades as new rapid transit services have been constructed, and poor-performing routes were eliminated or consolidated.Unlike the commuter buses, express bus routes serve areas where local buses are available. Comparable slower trips can also be accomplished with local buses. Commuter routes, however, provide service between locations not connected by local bus routes.
Both the express and commuter routes, identified with 3-digit numbers, offer limited service mostly during weekday rush hour between downtown Baltimore or Washington and various Park-and-Ride lots or other suburban locations in the state of Maryland. The commuter routes, designated with higher numbers, are operated by contractors rather than MTA employees.
The newest addition to the commuter bus service since 2010, known as Intercounty Connector or ICC for short, operates from Gaithersburg to BWI Marshall Airport, University of Maryland College Park or DoD/Fort Meade, traveling along the newly built Intercounty Connector expressway in central Maryland.
Neighborhood Shuttle Bug
Two of the local routes MTA operates are considered neighborhood shuttles, also known as Shuttle Bugs. These local routes focus on a specific neighborhood and the transportation of persons within these communities.During the early 2000s, MTA introduced two such routes. These routes, rather than operating like others around town, have differences that include:
- Reduced fare for a single ride: $1.00 rather than the $1.60 charged on regular buses. MTA unlimited ride passes also cover the fare.
- In 2006, three shorter, distinctively painted buses, 30-foot Opus buses were purchased and are used exclusively by the Mondawmin shuttle. The Opus buses are the only non 40- and 60-foot buses in MTA's fleet; held at Northwest garage. In mid-2011, MTA retired the three 30-foot Opus buses due to reliability issues.
- Schedules are printed in full color, rather than the monochrome design of most printed schedules, in order to attract more riders.
- Bus stop signs have unique identifications different from usual bus stops. The Hampden Shuttle is identified by a ladybug, and the Mondawmin Shuttle uses the grasshopper symbol.
A proposed Shuttle Bug route between Randallstown and the Owings Mills Metro Subway Station was fought by residents along the route the shuttle would take. Objections included that the service would operate on quiet residential streets not accustomed to bus traffic, and area residents did not need the service.
In 2005 and 2006, in various phases of the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative, MTA proposed various changes to these routes which included routing changes and threats to eliminate Route 98 completely and reduce service on Route 97 to once an hour. The only change that was actually made was a shift on Route 98 in 2008 to replace service on Roland Avenue, that was lost through a change to Route 27.
QuickBus
In 2005, MTA introduced a new form of express transit, known as “rapid bus service.” The first of these services was designated Route 40. The line operates every 10–15 minutes from the western to the eastern suburbs of Baltimore through the downtown area, serving various communities in West and East Baltimore. Stops are limited to major intersections, transfer points, and points of interest. Unlike other express buses, local fares are applicable on Route 40. Route 40 was later named "QuickBus."In 2009, a new "QuickBus" route was introduced. Designated as QuickBus 48, it operates along the same route as Route 8 minus the section north of Towson Town Center. Introduction of another QuickBus service that would operate along the route Route 3 and would have carry the designation "Route 43", but this proposal was delayed.
Two more QuickBus routes began service on August 30, 2010 until June 17, 2017. QuickBus 46 operates alongside routes 5 and 10 from Paradise Avenue loop to Cedonia Loop. QuickBus 47 travel along the route 15 from Walbrook Junction to Overlea Loop. Both buses operate on weekdays at peak hours only.
Current bus routes
Fares
Fleet roster
Current fleet roster
On Order
| Fleet number | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
| 20001, 20031 - Pilot Buses | 2020-24 | Nova Bus | LFS / LFS-A | Cummins |
|
Retired fleet roster
Hybrid vehicles (2008-2014)
Former Governor Martin O'Malley announced, in 2008, a commitment to convert the MTA's fleet to hybrid-electric buses by 2014 after the previous order of ten DE40LFRs in 2006. This involves purchasing up to 500 hybrids over a five-year period. In 2009, the MTA put the first 130 New Flyer hybrids into service. Thirty of the hybrids were the 60-foot articulated "DE60LFR" model and one-hundred were the 41-foot "DE41LFR" model. In 2010, forty-one more hybrids joined the fleet. These buses are "DE40LFR" models, similar to the DE41LFR, but with the air conditioning unit mounted on the top front half of the vehicle to make it appear with a streamline roof styling. In 2011, twelve "DE60LF" articulated hybrids began service August as rejects from a previous CTA order in 2009. The 60-foot DE60LF, similar configuration to DE60LFR except with the original model style. These buses are intended for the most heavily traveled routes carrying up to 100 passengers sitting and standing.Since 2006, the MTA has put one hundred ninety-three hybrid buses in service and has plans for fifty-seven more hybrids from New Flyer scheduled to arrive in January 2012. On October 7, 2011, MTA Maryland posted on their official Facebook page, a picture of 11001 one of the first XDE40s to roll off of New Flyer's production line for Baltimore with the caption of "MTA's first pilot Xcelsior Bus is here! Can't wait to get it on the streets of Baltimore!" New features of the hybrid buses include:
| <<< New features >>> |
| Tip-in windows, which open only at the top |
| Blue & light green wave paint scheme ' |
| White LED headsigns ' |
| Non-tinted and frameless windows |
| Traction flooring |
| HVAC unit mounted on roof of vehicle |
| American seating 4th generation urban style seats |
| Noise reduction |
| Vandalism-proof interior ' |
| Automatic touch-motion handles on rear doors |
| Wider doorways |
| Fluorescent interior lighting |
| Better safety equipment |
| 20% higher fuel mileage |
| 25% longer brake life |
| More than 3x as many miles before a major road call |
| Push-tape to request stops ' |
| Surveillance system that records both audio and video comes as a standard ' |
| Slightly redesigned cushioned seats ' |
| Senior/Disability seating has a bright yellow-colored shell and has printed on the seats that the seats are for people with disabilities and senior citizens |
For four consecutive years, MTA ordered a total of 211 New Flyer Xcelsior hybrid buses from 2011-2014. As of 2015, the state of Maryland elected a new governor, Larry Hogan whose administration removed the previous MTA administrator, appointed by former governor Martin O'Malley, to appoint a new administrator, Paul Comfort. In m-d-2016, the new administration decided to stop the trending order of diesel-electric hybrid buses started by former Governor O'Malley's administration. The ordering of low-sulfur diesel buses was a financial decision to receive more vehicles with less maintenance issues in-contrast to the numerous flaws hybrid buses tend to endure on a daily basis. The first order of such vehicles is expected to arrive in FY2016. A bid solicitation was released in 2015 for 87 low-sulfur diesel buses. It is currently unknown as of August 6, 2015 if this will become a permanent or temporary process to ordering diesel-only transit buses. Less than five months after the announcement, MTA received $100 million in investment to order 172 New Flyer diesel buses - lone bidder during the election process - to modernize, as well as, maximize the number of buses due to be in the system's revenue operations fleet FY2017. Some of these buses will be integrated into the administration's new CityLINK service beginning June 2017.
Bus yards
MTA local bus service in Baltimore is divided into four divisions, each served by its own maintenance yard. The first digit of a bus's "block number", attached to the bottom right corner of its windshield, indicates its "base" division. The buses also feature a small letter suffix to the fleet series number. The letter represent the 'first letter' of the division's "name" from where the bus is based.| Base | Base | Division | Routes | Yard location |
| 1 | B | Bush Street | NV, OR, GR, BL, SV, RD, YW, PR, BR, 26, 29, 37, 38, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 94, 95, 103, 105, 115, 150, 164 | 1515 Washington Blvd. |
| 2 | E | Eastern | NV, OR, BL, LM, GD, 21, 22, 28, 36, 56, 59, 62, 63, 65, 105, 120, 160 | 201 S. Oldham St. |
| 3 | K | Kirk Avenue | GR, PK, RD, PR, BR, 21, 30, 33, 51, 52, 53, 54, 57, 93, 103, 104, 120, 154 | 2226 Kirk Ave. Currently use for Bus Maintenance, until after construction of new Kirk Ave Facility is completed. |
| 4 | N | Northwest | LM, YW, GD, 22, 28, 30, 31, 33, 34, 37, 80, 81, 82, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 92, 94 | 4401 Mt. Hope Dr. |
| N/A | N/A | Remington | Temporary Facility to store buses for Kirk Division during construction process of PHASE II | 2500 Huntingdon Ave. |