Subway Closure To Last Until March, Bus Bridge Announced: MTA

BALTIMORE, MD — The Metro SubwayLink system will be shut down for emergency repairs for up to four weeks, officials announced on Sunday. The subway will remain closed until at the latest March 11, according to the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA).

In the meantime, a free local and express bus bridge will be available to help subway riders get to their destinations while the subway is closed, transportation officials said.

The Hogan administration announced it would provide $2.2 million in emergency funding to run shuttle bus bridges to transport riders along the Metro SubwayLink route, while will operate in addition to the existing BaltimoreLink bus options at each station provided by CityLink and LocalLink routes.

"Safety is our top priority," MTA Administrator Kevin Quinn said in a statement. "With bus bridges, we will be able to do the necessary rail repairs to reopen our system as quickly as possible while still providing our customers with critical access to work, school, medical facilities and leisure activities."

When operational, the Metro Subway Link carries passengers from Owings Mills to Johns Hopkins Hospital, along a 15.5-mile route that takes about 30 minutes. There are 14 stations along the way, including the Owings Mills station at 5018 Painters Mill Road.

News of the protracted closure comes on the heels of a weekend subway shutdown prompted by inspectors prepping for summer track work who noticed the need for emergency repairs.

The immediate work is required on the elevated track from Owings Mills to West Cold Spring, transportation officials said. As sections of the track are repaired, the Maryland Department of Transportation will evaluate whether they are safe for reopening.

Bus Bridge Info

The free shuttle bus service will run from 5 a.m. to midnight on Monday, Feb. 12, and will keep that schedule on weekdays. On weekends, the bus bridge will run from 6 a.m. to midnight.

An express bus bridge will run during peak period hours Monday through Friday, from 6 to 11 a.m. and 3 to8 p.m. It will stop at Owings Mills, Milford Mill, Mondawmin, State Center, Charles Center and Johns Hopkins.

Officials said that Transit Ambassadors will be placed at key Metro SubwayLink stations to assist customers.

While repairs are underway to Metro SubwayLink, there will be bus alternatives at each station on CityLink or LocalLink routes, according to the MTA.

"On behalf of our citizens who rely daily on the Metro SubwayLink system for their transport needs, I want to express our gratitude to the Hogan administration for this emergency funding we requested to provide dedicated buses that will travel the Metro SubwayLink route," Mayor Catherine E. Pugh said in a statement. "It is important that we do everything possible to mitigate the inconvenience of prolonged disruption of the Metro SubwayLink service."

Photo courtesy of the MTA.