A former no. 8 streetcar, the predecessor to bus Route 8, at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum. This vehicle is currently used to give rides to visitors.
Route 8 was electrified in 1895 as a streetcar running from Towson to Catonsville. Back then, it served the corridors of York Road, Greenmount Avenue, and Frederick Road through downtown Baltimore. Another streetcar, known as "no. 7," operated a short-turn version of this route from Govanstown to Irvington before being absorbed into no. 8 in 1931.[3] In 1963, the line was converted into a bus operation, retaining this route. The no. 8 streetcar was the final streetcar line of Baltimore to undergo a conversion into a bus service. [4]
There were also various branches of Route 8 added over the years to communities including Mt. Washington (added in 1972, designated 8A), Cockeysville (operated 1973-1989, designated 8B), Providence/Springlake (operated 1973-1989, designated 8D and 8E), Eudowood, the Towson State University campus, and Stella Maris nursing home, which opened in 1980.[5] All these services have since been absorbed by other lines or otherwise abolished.[3]
In 1982, Route 8 was split into two separate lines in order to provide improved schedule adherence on each line and varied frequencies of service along each corridor, where demands for service varied. The new Route 8 ran from the center of Towson to the University of Maryland Transit Center, and the new Route 2 from Catonsville to City Hall.[3] Service along Route 2 is currently provided by Route 10.
In 1992, in conjunction with the opening of the Central Light Rail line, Route 8 was extended north of Towson to the Lutherville Light Rail Stop on Ridgely Road except on Sundays.[6] This extension mostly overlapped with Route 9, and this duplication of service during off-peak hours was criticized as costly. Branches to the Towson State campus and Stella Maris, though originally proposed for elimination, continued to operate at this time.
In 1993, MTA, addressing the cost issue of the extension, eliminated Route 9 service between Towson and Lutherville during off-peak weekday hours, and improved the frequency of that line's service on other parts of the route. The Lutherville extension on Saturdays was also discontinued, and on weekends, improved levels of this service were provided on Route 9.[7]
In 2000, MTA combined Routes 8 and 9, and extended selected Route 8 trips from Lutherville to Hunt Valley. This constituted about two-thirds of trips at most times. This consolidation saved costs and allowed single-seat service along the York Road corridor at all times, while making Route 8 one of the longest routes operated by MTA.
Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative changesEdit
In 2005, as part of the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative, a comprehensive overhaul of the region's bus service, MTA announced that Routes 8 and 9 would once again be split into two separate lines. This time, all Route 8 trips would operate to/from Lutherville seven days a week, and Route 9 would provide all service on the route north of Ridgely Road. In addition, all other branches on the line would be eliminated. These included those to Loveton, International Circle (both former branches of Route 9), and Stella Maris.[8] And in order to reduce overcrowding of buses, MTA stated that articulated buses, which have a higher seating capacity, would be used on all Route 8 trips.
Service is no longer provided to Loveton by MTA, but a private contractor was chartered by employers in the area to provide shuttle service. In February 2006, all Route 9 were rerouted to International Circle due to complaints about the elimination of this branch.[9] In February 2009, York, Pennsylvania's Rabbit Transit started providing service on its new Route 83S which connects to the light rail.
The Stella Maris branch of Route 8 was also discontinued as a part of GBBI. But due to public outcry, service to Stella Maris is still provided on a new Route 12.[10]
BaltimoreLinkEdit
As part of the BaltimoreLink transit overhaul to take place on June 18, 2017, Route 8 will be replaced in its entirety by CityLink Red.[11]
^Darrin Keith Bastfield (2003). Back in the day: My life and times with Tupac Shakur. Da Capo Press. pp 52-53.
October 17, 2023
citylink, baltimorelink, citylink, abbreviated, baltimorelink, route, operated, maryland, transit, administration, baltimore, suburbs, line, currently, runs, from, university, maryland, transit, center, lutherville, light, rail, stop, along, corridors, york, r. CityLink Red abbreviated RD is a MTA BaltimoreLink bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore and its suburbs The line currently runs from the University of Maryland Transit Center to the Lutherville Light Rail Stop along the corridors of York Road and Greenmount Avenue and is the most heavily used MTA bus line 2 The CityLink Red bus replaced Route 8 bus route due to BaltimoreLink and is the successor to the 8 Towson and 7 Govanstown streetcar lines 3 CityLink RedOverviewSystemMTA BaltimoreLinkGarageKirkStatusactiveBegan service1963PredecessorsRoute 8 1963 2017 No 8 Streetcar 1898 1963 RouteLocaleBaltimore City Baltimore CountyCommunities servedTowsonStoneleighGovansWaverlyLandmarks servedTowson Town CenterTowson UniversityBelvedere SquareSenator TheaterOther routes1 3 5 7 9 10 11 12 13 15 19 20 21 22 23 27 30 33 35 36 qb40 44 qb46 qb47 qb48 55 58 61 64 91 120 150 160ServiceLevelDailyFrequencyEvery 15 minutes Every 15 minutes peak Weekend frequencyEvery 15 30 minutesOperates24 hours 1 Ridership2 393 952 2022 Route mapvteCityLink RedLutherville station limited serviceTowson Town Center limited service Fairmount Ave Dulaney Valley Rd Towson York Pennsylvania Towson University York Burke Yorktown York Stevenson Belvedere Square York Northern Kernewood Wilson Park York Cold Spring Waverly Greenmount 33rd Harwood Greenmount 28th 29th Barclay Greenmount 25th Greenmount North Greenmount North Johnston Square Greenmount Preston Biddle Old Town Mall Forrest Hillen City Hall Gay Fayette Shot Tower Market Place stationCharles Center stationBaltimore Arena University Center stationUniversity of Maryland Transit Center previous line system nav next line Contents 1 History 2 Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative changes 2 1 Stella Maris service 2 2 BaltimoreLink 3 Route 48 Quickbus 4 In popular culture 5 External links 6 ReferencesHistory Edit nbsp A former no 8 streetcar the predecessor to bus Route 8 at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum This vehicle is currently used to give rides to visitors Route 8 was electrified in 1895 as a streetcar running from Towson to Catonsville Back then it served the corridors of York Road Greenmount Avenue and Frederick Road through downtown Baltimore Another streetcar known as no 7 operated a short turn version of this route from Govanstown to Irvington before being absorbed into no 8 in 1931 3 In 1963 the line was converted into a bus operation retaining this route The no 8 streetcar was the final streetcar line of Baltimore to undergo a conversion into a bus service 4 There were also various branches of Route 8 added over the years to communities including Mt Washington added in 1972 designated 8A Cockeysville operated 1973 1989 designated 8B Providence Springlake operated 1973 1989 designated 8D and 8E Eudowood the Towson State University campus and Stella Maris nursing home which opened in 1980 5 All these services have since been absorbed by other lines or otherwise abolished 3 In 1982 Route 8 was split into two separate lines in order to provide improved schedule adherence on each line and varied frequencies of service along each corridor where demands for service varied The new Route 8 ran from the center of Towson to the University of Maryland Transit Center and the new Route 2 from Catonsville to City Hall 3 Service along Route 2 is currently provided by Route 10 In 1992 in conjunction with the opening of the Central Light Rail line Route 8 was extended north of Towson to the Lutherville Light Rail Stop on Ridgely Road except on Sundays 6 This extension mostly overlapped with Route 9 and this duplication of service during off peak hours was criticized as costly Branches to the Towson State campus and Stella Maris though originally proposed for elimination continued to operate at this time In 1993 MTA addressing the cost issue of the extension eliminated Route 9 service between Towson and Lutherville during off peak weekday hours and improved the frequency of that line s service on other parts of the route The Lutherville extension on Saturdays was also discontinued and on weekends improved levels of this service were provided on Route 9 7 In 2000 MTA combined Routes 8 and 9 and extended selected Route 8 trips from Lutherville to Hunt Valley This constituted about two thirds of trips at most times This consolidation saved costs and allowed single seat service along the York Road corridor at all times while making Route 8 one of the longest routes operated by MTA Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative changes EditIn 2005 as part of the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative a comprehensive overhaul of the region s bus service MTA announced that Routes 8 and 9 would once again be split into two separate lines This time all Route 8 trips would operate to from Lutherville seven days a week and Route 9 would provide all service on the route north of Ridgely Road In addition all other branches on the line would be eliminated These included those to Loveton International Circle both former branches of Route 9 and Stella Maris 8 And in order to reduce overcrowding of buses MTA stated that articulated buses which have a higher seating capacity would be used on all Route 8 trips Service is no longer provided to Loveton by MTA but a private contractor was chartered by employers in the area to provide shuttle service In February 2006 all Route 9 were rerouted to International Circle due to complaints about the elimination of this branch 9 In February 2009 York Pennsylvania s Rabbit Transit started providing service on its new Route 83S which connects to the light rail Stella Maris service Edit Main article Route 12 MTA Maryland The Stella Maris branch of Route 8 was also discontinued as a part of GBBI But due to public outcry service to Stella Maris is still provided on a new Route 12 10 BaltimoreLink Edit As part of the BaltimoreLink transit overhaul to take place on June 18 2017 Route 8 will be replaced in its entirety by CityLink Red 11 Route 48 Quickbus EditSee Route 48 In popular culture EditAuthor Darrin Keith Bastfield in his book Back in the day describes riding the bus on Greenmount Avenue along with future rapper Tupac Shakur 12 Actress Jean Hill can be seen hijacking the bus in John Waters 1981 film PolyesterExternal links EditRoute 8 map and schedule effective August 29 2010References Edit http mta maryland gov sites default files 8 SCHEDULE 8 10 web pdf bare URL PDF Transit Route Performance 1999 Archived 2011 07 17 at the Wayback Machine Baltimore Transit Archives Retrieved 2010 08 25 a b c d The Routes of Baltimore Transit 1900 to today Archived 2011 07 17 at the Wayback Machine Baltimore Transit Archives Retrieved 2010 08 25 Herbert H Harwood 2003 Baltimore Streetcars The Postwar Years Johns Hopkins University Press pp 22 29 ISBN 0 8018 7190 5 Our History Archived 2009 07 06 at the Wayback Machine Stella Maris Retrieved 2010 08 25 MTA June 1992 schedule changes MTA January 1993 schedule changes MTA Maryland press release June 9 2009 Highlights of proposed bus route changes The Baltimore Sun Retrieved August 17 2011 MTA announces winter schedule improvements MTA press release January 7 2006 Michael Dresser June 9 2005 Sweeping revisions of bus routes proposed Baltimore Sun Archived from the original on June 4 2011 Retrieved 2010 08 25 Route 8 BaltimoreLink Darrin Keith Bastfield 2003 Back in the day My life and times with Tupac Shakur Da Capo Press pp 52 53 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title CityLink Red BaltimoreLink amp oldid 1167144975, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
