Route M-6 (MTA Maryland)
Encyclopedia
Route 57 is a bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration
in Baltimore
and its suburbs. The line currently runs from the Rogers Avenue Metro Subway Station in Northwest Baltimore to Security Square Mall
, with selected trips to the Social Security Administration
headquarters in Woodlawn
. The line serves the corridor of Gwynn Oak Avenue and the communities of Howard Park, Gwynn Oak
, and Windsor Mill.
The route is the successor to the 32 Woodlawn and 33 West Arlington streetcar lines and several bus routes.
and then operating through Downtown Baltimore
mostly to Cherry Hill. These services operated on Sundays until 2001, when Route M-6 started operating on Sundays. The line has only had minor routing and schedule changes since its 1984 introduction, with the exception of two redesignations (in 1987 from R-3 to M-6 and in 2009 from M-6 to 57) and a controversial elimination in 2005 that was later reversed.
The no. 33 streetcar line was discontinued when the no. 5 streetcar ended its service in 1948. But service along Gwynn Oak would continue to operate as branches of the No. 32 Streetcar, which became the Bus Route 32 in 1955. Bus Route 32 would become part of Bus Routes 28 and 37 in 1959.
Routes 28 and 37 had served Liberty Heights Avenue since 1947. The main bus line serving Liberty Heights in both directions was Route 28. While Route 28 operated in both directions, buses that had a final destination of Cherry Hill were designated no. 37. This was done to alert white residents of the communities in the Liberty Heights area that the bus's final destination was Cherry Hill, then a low class black community. This practice was discontinued in 1974 when the no. 37 designation was dropped, and all buses along this route were given the no. 28 designation. When Route 37 became a part of Route 28, it would continue to serve the Gwynn Oak area full-time until 1984. During this time, it would undergo extensions to Social Security and Security Square Mall following development of the Woodlawn area.
Route 28 would continue to serve the Gwynn Oak area outside of Metro's
hours of operation until 2001. Route 28 had three branches: one to Randallstown, one to various points on Security Boulevard
, and one to Belvedere and Belvieu. These covered most of the route of Route M-6 when Route M-6 did not operate. In 1996, Route 28 converted into a Sunday only service. The Belvedere and Belvieu branch was discontinued, and service on the other branches was increased. Other parts of route 28 were absorbed by existing parts or modifications to other lines. In September 2001, Route 28 was completely discontinued when Metro connection services were introduced on Sunday.
were extended to either Security Square Mall or Social Security to replace the service. It was noted in literature produced by MTA that "service on Route M-6 was to be provided by Route 44." But this was not how riders and community activists viewed the change.
The elimination of Route M-6 was criticized as follows:
In the weeks immediately following the elimination, community activists and delegates were told by MTA that Route M-6 service would not be restored, despite these complaints. MTA stated that Route 44 provided sufficient service, and only a small percentage of riders were negatively affected.
In March 2006, under extreme pressure from the community, MTA restored eight round trips on weekdays to Route M-6. MTA stated that this act was a compromise in exchange for hushing all other complaints against MTA in reference to this and other recent and planned changes in route. But rider advocates were not satisfied. These trips operated hourly during peak hours only. Activists continued to put pressure on MTA.
In October 2006, exactly 50 weeks after its original elimination, full-time service was restored on Route M-6. This took place at a time when officials were facing re-election. This change did not help the outgoing administration win re-election, but it did restore the line to its full-time, 7-day-a-week status.
On August 30, Route M-6 was redesignated Route 57. This completed MTA's plan to rename all M-lines to two digit designations.
Maryland Transit Administration
The Maryland Transit Administration is a state-operated mass transit administration in Maryland, and is part of the Maryland Department of Transportation. It is better known as MTA Maryland to avoid confusion with other cities' transit agencies who share the initials MTA. The MTA operates a...
in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
and its suburbs. The line currently runs from the Rogers Avenue Metro Subway Station in Northwest Baltimore to Security Square Mall
Security Square Mall
Security Square Mall is a large mall in the suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland, United States. The mall features over 100 stores and restaurants, as well as a food court, with Burlington Coat Factory, Macy's, Old Navy and Sears serving as anchor stores. One section of the mall, Seoul Plaza, used to...
, with selected trips to the Social Security Administration
Social Security Administration
The United States Social Security Administration is an independent agency of the United States federal government that administers Social Security, a social insurance program consisting of retirement, disability, and survivors' benefits...
headquarters in Woodlawn
Woodlawn, Baltimore County, Maryland
Woodlawn is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 36,079 at the 2000 census. It is home to both the headquarters of the Social Security Administration as well as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services...
. The line serves the corridor of Gwynn Oak Avenue and the communities of Howard Park, Gwynn Oak
Gwynn Oak, Maryland
Gwynn Oak is an unincorporated community in the northwestern part of Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It is near the Baltimore city line. Gwynn Oak is mostly in the areas of Liberty Road and Windsor Mill Road paralleling until city limits. It is similar to Woodlawn, Milford Mill, Windsor...
, and Windsor Mill.
The route is the successor to the 32 Woodlawn and 33 West Arlington streetcar lines and several bus routes.
History
Route 57 started operating under the Route R-3 designation on June 18, 1984. Prior to 1984, the area had been served by other bus and streetcar lines, most recently Route 28, which had branches feeding into Liberty Heights AvenueMaryland Route 26
Maryland Route 26 is an east–west state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Outside of the Baltimore city limits, it is known as Liberty Road; inside the city limits it is known as Liberty Heights Avenue....
and then operating through Downtown Baltimore
Downtown Baltimore
Downtown Baltimore is the section of Baltimore traditionally bounded by Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard to the west, Mt. Royal Avenue to the north, President Street to the east and the Inner Harbor area to the south. It consists of four neighborhoods: Westside, City Centre, Inner Harbor, and...
mostly to Cherry Hill. These services operated on Sundays until 2001, when Route M-6 started operating on Sundays. The line has only had minor routing and schedule changes since its 1984 introduction, with the exception of two redesignations (in 1987 from R-3 to M-6 and in 2009 from M-6 to 57) and a controversial elimination in 2005 that was later reversed.
Origin
Streetcar service began on the Gwynn Oak corridor in 1924 with the initiation of the No. 33 Streetcar line, which operated as a branch of the No. 5 Streetcar line into Gwynn Oak Junction. This service was suspended briefly in 1930 in favor of a bus designated no. 20, bus streetcar service resumed later that same year.The no. 33 streetcar line was discontinued when the no. 5 streetcar ended its service in 1948. But service along Gwynn Oak would continue to operate as branches of the No. 32 Streetcar, which became the Bus Route 32 in 1955. Bus Route 32 would become part of Bus Routes 28 and 37 in 1959.
Routes 28 and 37 had served Liberty Heights Avenue since 1947. The main bus line serving Liberty Heights in both directions was Route 28. While Route 28 operated in both directions, buses that had a final destination of Cherry Hill were designated no. 37. This was done to alert white residents of the communities in the Liberty Heights area that the bus's final destination was Cherry Hill, then a low class black community. This practice was discontinued in 1974 when the no. 37 designation was dropped, and all buses along this route were given the no. 28 designation. When Route 37 became a part of Route 28, it would continue to serve the Gwynn Oak area full-time until 1984. During this time, it would undergo extensions to Social Security and Security Square Mall following development of the Woodlawn area.
Route 28 would continue to serve the Gwynn Oak area outside of Metro's
Baltimore Metro Subway
The Baltimore Metro Subway, known locally as the Metro Subway, The Subway, or Baltimore Metro is a rapid transit line serving the greater Baltimore, Maryland, United States area and operated by the Maryland Transit Administration...
hours of operation until 2001. Route 28 had three branches: one to Randallstown, one to various points on Security Boulevard
Maryland Route 122
Maryland Route 122 , better known locally as Security Boulevard, is a six-lane highway that runs near the Social Security Administration complex located in Woodlawn in western Baltimore County, Maryland...
, and one to Belvedere and Belvieu. These covered most of the route of Route M-6 when Route M-6 did not operate. In 1996, Route 28 converted into a Sunday only service. The Belvedere and Belvieu branch was discontinued, and service on the other branches was increased. Other parts of route 28 were absorbed by existing parts or modifications to other lines. In September 2001, Route 28 was completely discontinued when Metro connection services were introduced on Sunday.
Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative
In October 2005, MTA completely eliminated Route M-6 from service. All trips on Route 44Route 44 (MTA Maryland)
Route 44 is a bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore and its suburbs. The line currently runs from Rosedale Industrial Park near Pulaski Highway just outside the Baltimore city limits on the east side of the city across the northern portion of the city to Security...
were extended to either Security Square Mall or Social Security to replace the service. It was noted in literature produced by MTA that "service on Route M-6 was to be provided by Route 44." But this was not how riders and community activists viewed the change.
The elimination of Route M-6 was criticized as follows:
- Route 44 takes a slightly different route from Route M-6. Though this route is more direct while traveling to the Woodlawn area, it does not serve various side streets in the Howard Park community of Northwest Baltimore, an area populated by many senior citizenSenior citizenSenior citizen is a common polite designation for an elderly person in both UK and US English, and it implies or means that the person is retired. This in turn implies or in fact means that the person is over the retirement age, which varies according to country. Synonyms include pensioner in UK...
s. These elderly residents were forced to walk several blocks in order to reach a bus line, one that operates in a very different direction. - Route 44 is a long route, running for about an hour prior to reaching the Rogers Avenue Metro Subway Station. The service is far less reliable when attempting to reach the Security area from the Metro subway.
- Fewer trips were provided on Route 44 than were provided by Route M-6, especially during evenings and weekends. Also, Route 44 was overcrowded at these points.
In the weeks immediately following the elimination, community activists and delegates were told by MTA that Route M-6 service would not be restored, despite these complaints. MTA stated that Route 44 provided sufficient service, and only a small percentage of riders were negatively affected.
In March 2006, under extreme pressure from the community, MTA restored eight round trips on weekdays to Route M-6. MTA stated that this act was a compromise in exchange for hushing all other complaints against MTA in reference to this and other recent and planned changes in route. But rider advocates were not satisfied. These trips operated hourly during peak hours only. Activists continued to put pressure on MTA.
In October 2006, exactly 50 weeks after its original elimination, full-time service was restored on Route M-6. This took place at a time when officials were facing re-election. This change did not help the outgoing administration win re-election, but it did restore the line to its full-time, 7-day-a-week status.
On August 30, Route M-6 was redesignated Route 57. This completed MTA's plan to rename all M-lines to two digit designations.