The MTA Maryland proposed Winter service changes are out.

25% of CityLink routes are proposed to be truncated.
36% of LocalLink routes are proposed to be eliminated.
40% of remaining LocalLink routes will see service reductions
100% of Express Bus routes are proposed to be eliminated.

Routes proposed for total elimination include:

Express Bus Routes 103, 104, 105, 115, 120, 150, 154, 160, and 164
LocalLinks 21, 34, 38, 51, 52, 53, 57, 59, 70, 71, 73, 81, 82, 91, 92 and 95

Service Frequency will be mostly reduced to 45 minutes or hourly on:

LocalLinks 28, 29, 31, 33, 37, 62, 67, 76, 75, 77, 83 and 87

Changes would take place in January 2021. Full proposed service changes and methods to participate in public comment are available by clicking here.

The proposed Winter 2021 Major Service Changes are a part of $43 million in Operating Budget cuts proposed to MTA Maryland by the Maryland Department of Transportation. MDOT is proposing additional capital budget cuts to MTA Maryland totaling over $150 million. You can view the Draft Consolidated Transportation Program including these cuts by clicking here.

We will be working with the Central Maryland Transportation Alliance to analyze these proposed major cuts to our already struggling transit system, and will be sharing ways to get involved and speak out. In the meantime, the statement we released yesterday in advance of these cuts is below:

The pandemic has had a profound impact on public transit in the United States. Nationally transit use has plummeted by as much as 90%. In contrast, Baltimore bus ridership dropped only 60% at its lowest point late April 2020.

With fare revenues down and other funding sources depleted, transit agencies are forced to make difficult decisions. Tomorrow MTA will announce changes to transit service in greater Baltimore. These cuts will eliminate bus routes and bus stops, and cause less frequent service and reduced hours. Once cuts take effect, there is no guarantee they will ever be reversed. Our already insufficient transit system will get worse.
The pandemic has caused significant financial stress to communities demonstrated to be most reliant on public transportation to get to work. Changes to transit service must consider equity, economic stability, and the public health of our most vulnerable communities. We must do all we can to maintain connectivity to the resources people need the most: jobs, health care, and healthy foods.
Essential workers, people with disabilities, and young people rely on public transit. The Central Maryland Transportation Alliance and Bikemore are committed to working with MTA to ensure these schedule changes do not leave our most vulnerable residents behind.
There will be an opportunity for public comment. We encourage those impacted by the changes to make their voices heard. We will be communicating additional information as it becomes available.