MDOT MTA Set to Begin Second Week of BaltimoreLink Service

From MDOT MTA: Early results show Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Maryland Transit Administration's (MDOT MTA) new BaltimoreLink is delivering faster service for its customers. Expanded services are being added because of high demand for the new BaltimoreLink service.

"Due to the high interest in BaltimoreLink, we are adding additional service to meet the demands of our customers," said Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn.

BaltimoreLink creates an interconnected transit system by redesigning the entire local and express bus systems throughout Baltimore and adding 12 new high-frequency, color-coded bus routes that improve connections to jobs and to MARC Train, Metro SubwayLink and Light RailLink.

"BaltimoreLink is delivering results for our riders," said MDOT MTA Administrator Kevin Quinn. "We thank our operators for their continued hard work and great attitude helping customers learn the new system."
In a before and after run time comparison that analyzed the impact of dedicated lanes, analysis shows that buses traveling on Pratt Street in dedicated lanes have a seven percent time savings on all routes throughout the weekday. Even greater benefits are seen in the afternoon peak (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) when congestion is worst, where there is a 17 percent savings on all routes on the most congested segments of Pratt Street.

Additionally, along Lombard Street, buses traveling in dedicated lanes are seeing a 25 percent time savings on all routes on the most congested segments of Lombard in the morning hours.

"The new BaltimoreLink system is great. The buses are running efficiently and I'm getting where I need to go," said MDOT MTA Customer Shavonn Bryan.

"The BaltimoreLink system is a significant improvement because it looks at the entire Baltimore region as a whole and emphasizes the importance of getting people to where the jobs are," said Keith Scott, President, Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce. "Express BusLink, in particular, is great for Baltimore County because it makes it easier than ever to take transit to from one suburb to another to access key employment centers."

A recent media report indicated it took approximately 90 minutes on a morning bus ride from West Baltimore to the new Amazon Fulfillment Center in Southeast Baltimore. Following the implementation of BaltimoreLink, riders now use the CityLink Navy bus and transfer to the LocalLink 65, for drop off at the front door of Amazon. Click here(link is external) to watch the video of the morning commute to Amazon.
New service improvements that have been implemented include:

• CityLink Orange now offers additional service in both directions. Two additional westbound trips at 4:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. starting at Fox Ridge in Essex, supplement existing service at 4:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Two additional eastbound trips at 4:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. start at the West Baltimore MARC station providing an earlier option than the current 5:00 a.m. trip.
• CityLink Pink now offers additional service in both directions, with the primary inbound movement from Cedonia Loop. The first new bus leaves the loop at 3:15 a.m., followed by the second new bus at 4:15 a.m.
• CityLink Blue now offers additional service by adding one round trip beginning at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service (CMS) at 3:45 a.m. to supplement the existing 4:40 a.m. service. The return trip westbound leaves Johns Hopkins Bayview at 4:00 a.m., providing an earlier option than the scheduled 4:22 a.m. service.

The public will continue to receive free rides on all CityLink, LocalLink, Express BusLink, Light RailLink and Metro SubwayLink through June 30.

"BaltimoreLink keeps the service efficient and on-time. It's about allowing us to get through the city and keeping our customers happy," said Veronica Gee, MDOT MTA Bus Operator and Union Instructor.

"BaltimoreLink significantly increases essential connections to job centers. This plan provides underserved communities more frequent and better transit access," added Erick Oribio, President, Baltimore Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

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