CityLink Gold (BaltimoreLink)
 | Parts of this article (those related to BaltimoreLink Bus Route Changes) need to be updated. (June 2017) |
160 | |
|---|---|
| Service | |
| Level | Daily |
| Frequency | Every 10 minutes Every 8 minutes (peak) |
| Weekend frequency | Every 10-15 minutes |
| Operates | 24 Hours a Day[1] |
| Ridership | 1,780,857 (2022) |
CityLink Gold (abbreviated GD) is a
In 1999, Route 13 has the highest farebox recovery rate of all MTA bus lines, recovering nearly its entire cost.[2]
The current bus route is the successor to the 13 North Avenue and 22 Washington Street–Canton
History
Route 13 was Baltimore's first streetcar line, having started its operation in 1890 along North Avenue.
Throughout most of the years of its operation, few other routing changes were made to Route 13. In 2005, as part of the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative, a comprehensive overhaul for the region's transit system, MTA announced that the following changes would be made to Route 13:
- All trips to both Fells Point and Canton would operate along Wolfe Streets (on which Fells Point trips operated) and Milton Street (route of the Canton trips). This would provide simplified service and allow riders on both branches to reach Johns Hopkins Hospital.
- The frequency of service would be improved.[7] Midday and Saturday service would operate every 10 minutes instead 15, and Sunday service every 15 minutes instead of 20.
- Branches on the line to Social Security and Lower Canton would be eliminated. Riders would be directed to use other buses to reach Social Security, and there would be no service to Lower Canton.
All these plans were implemented on October 23, 2005.
Even before these plans were finalized, they drew a lot of controversy. Of particular concern were the changes in the route between North Avenue and Monument Street, and the removal of buses from Washington/Wolfe Streets and Milton Street. This required elderly residents of these communities to walk up to six blocks extra in order to reach the line.[8]
After the implementation of these changes, a large uproar among riders was held. Riders demanded that Route 13 return to its old route immediately, and local media picked up on the story.
On February 5, 2006, MTA implemented new changes to Route 13, partially returning buses to their old route. All trips to Canton and Fells Point now operate via Washington/Wolfe Streets rather than Patterson Park Avenue. A new branch on the line was formed, which operated along North Avenue, then looped via Milton Street, Federal Street, and Patterson Park Avenue. This branch, which operates every 30 minutes on weekdays from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm, and has more limited Saturday service, meets the needs of senior citizens in these areas.[9]
BaltimoreLink
As part of the BaltimoreLink transit overhaul plan, on June 18, 2017 Route 13 will be served by two different routes. CityLink Gold will take over the section from Walbrook Junction to Canton Crossing, and LocalLink 21 will take the Highlandtown section of Route 13, going to the Woodberry Light Rail station.[10]
In theater
In 2010, Run of the Mill Theater created six 15-minute plays based on the Route 13 bus. The plays were created by riding the bus and interviewing random passengers.[11]
Hopkins Express
| Route 104 | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| System | 58 |
| Service | |
| Level | Weekdays only |
| Frequency | One am trip and one pm trip (peak) |
| Operates | 7:30 am to 5:15 pm[citation needed] |
In the past, trips from various other locations that were designated as Hopkins Express operated to the area of Johns Hopkins Hospital. These were designated Route 13, and provided express service along the corridors of other bus routes on weekdays to Johns Hopkins Hospital.
In 2000, these lines were redesignated. The Towson branch, which had operated along the route of
In 2005, as part of
The Route 104 (Hopkins Express) operates one-trip southbound during morning peak-hour and one-trip northbound during evening peak-hour.
References
- ^ Schedule mta.maryland.gov [dead link]
- ^ "Transit route performance - 1999". Odds & Ends. Baltimore Transit Company Archives. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
- ^ "Routes 10-19a". The Routes of Baltimore Transit: 1900 to today. Baltimore Transit Company Archives. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
- ^ "Routes 20-29". The Routes of Baltimore Transit: 1900 to today. Baltimore Transit Company Archives. Archived from the original on June 1, 2002. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
- ^ a b "Routes 30-39". The Routes of Baltimore Transit: 1900 to today. Baltimore Transit Company Archives. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
- ISBN 0-8018-7190-5.
- ^ Michael Dresser (June 9, 2005). "Sweeping revision of bus routes proposed". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
- ^ Michael Dresser (August 6, 2005). "Revised bus route plan still draws some critics". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
- ^ MTA February 2006 schedule changes
- ^ "Route 13". BaltimoreLink.
- ^ McCauley, Mary Carole (July 16, 2010). "Rush hour inspiration". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
External links
- Route 13 map and schedule, effective August 29, 2010.
- Route 104 map and schedule, effective February 9, 2009.