The Maryland Transit Administration has scheduled a series of public hearings next month on its plans to revamp its bus service in metropolitan Baltimore - the most sweeping changes to the system in decades.
The MTA is proposing to change more than 50 of its bus routes, create four routes and eliminate or consolidate about a dozen others as part of what state Transportation Secretary Robert L. Flanagan has called "the first comprehensive restructuring of our bus routes in the last 30 years."
FOR THE RECORD - An article Monday gave an incorrect address for the site of a June 16 hearing on proposed changes in Maryland Transit Administration bus routes. The 4 p.m.-to-8 p.m. hearing will take place in Coppin State University's New Dining Hall, Room 218, 2500 W. North Ave.
The hearings on what the MTA calls its Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative will begin June 13 and continue through June 22. They involve proposed changes to the core bus service in Baltimore City and Baltimore and Anne Arundel counties, and to commuter lines to Harford and Howard counties.
The MTA has posted its proposed changes, as well as revised route maps, on its Web site, www.mtamaryland.com.
The agency has been studying a restructuring of its bus routes for more than a year in an effort to match its service to current needs and ridership levels.
The MTA said the proposed changes are intended to simplify routes, create better transit corridors, help riders connect to rail routes and improve travel speed. Under the plan, some neighborhoods and employers that now have bus service would lose it.
The MTA plans to implement the changes to its commuter routes Aug. 1 and to its core bus routes Oct. 16.
MTA Administrator Lisa L. Dickerson said the agency surveyed more than 11,000 riders on their use of the system before proposing the changes.
Changing bus routes
Affected routes
The Maryland Transit Administration is proposing changes to the following bus routes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22, 23, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 36, 44, 51, 55, 61, 64, 65, 68, 77, 86, 91, 102, 103, 104, 105, 150, 160, 310, 311, 320, 410, 411, 412, M1, M6, M8, M10, M12, M17, Hampden neighborhood shuttle Mondawmin neighborhood shuttle
New lines proposed:
9 (Lutherville-Hunt Valley)
28 (North Avenue-Sinai Hospital)
40 (Essex-Security Square)
41 (Cromwell Station-Annapolis)
The MTA has set the following public hearing dates on its proposed bus route changes:
June 13: noon -- 8 p.m. Baltimore City-center: War Memorial Plaza Paul C. Wolman Assembly Hall, Lower Level, 101 N. Gay St.
June 14: 4 p.m. -- 8 p.m. Baltimore County-west: Catonsville Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 1004 Frederick Road, Catonsville
June 15: 4 p.m. -- 8 p.m. Baltimore County-north: Sheraton Baltimore North Hotel, Duncan Room, second floor, 903 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson
June 15: 4 p.m. -- 8 p.m. Anne Arundel County-north: Pascal Senior Center auditorium, 125 Dorsey Road, Glen Burnie June 16: 4 p.m. -- 8 p.m. Baltimore City-west: Coppin State University, New Dining Hall, Room 218, 1500 W. North Ave. (Warwick Avenue entrance)
June 16: 4 p.m. -- 8 p.m. Baltimore County-east: Community College of Baltimore County, Dundalk, K Building, Student Lounge (If driving, park in Lots 1 or 2), 7200 Sollers Point Road, Dundalk
Commuter bus public hearings
June 20: 7 p.m. -- 8 p.m. Columbia: Kahler Hall Community Room, lower level, 5440 Old Tucker Row, Columbia
June 21: 3:30 p.m. -- 6:30 p.m. Jessup: Holiday Inn Columbia (U.S. 1 & Route 175), Kentucky Derby Room, 7900 Washington Blvd., Jessup
June 22: 7 p.m. -- 8 p.m. Bel Air: Uncle George's Restaurant, Alexis Gardens Hall, 120 S. Bond St., Bel Air
