Route 16 (MTA Maryland)
Encyclopedia
Route 16 is a bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration
in Baltimore
. The line currently runs from the Mondawmin Metro Subway Station in Northwest Baltimore to Brooklyn Homes
in South Baltimore through the communities of Rosemont
(serving Coppin State College) and the corridors of Hilton Street, Caton Avenue, and Patapsco Avenue. During peak hours, selected trips operate via Violetville Industrial Park
.
was split. Service along its route started in 1971 as 22 EXTENDED.
Much of the current route of Route 16 historically was not served by a single transit route. Portions that were include North Avenue, which has been served by the no. 13 streetcar since 1890 and also the No. 31 streetcar, which later became the No. 19 streetcar (and is currently Bus Route 91); both these lines currently overlap. Bloomingdale Avenue and Poplar Grove Street were served by the Nos. 4 and 35 streetcars (currently Bus Route 15. Service on Fish House Road (where Patapsco Avenue is now located) between Annapolis Road
and Brooklyn was provided by Short Line Routes.
The no. 16 designation has previously been used for several Baltimore area public transit routes, most notably a streetcar that operated from Reservoir Hill to Fells Point from 1893 to 1948, that operated as a bus line until 1956. Its route is currently served mostly by Bus Route 5. The no. 16 desination was also used for a bus route that operated from 1973 to 1989 between downtown Baltimore
and BWI Airport, Odenton
, and Ft. Meade, before being replaced by two express buses designated Routes 230 and 240. The current route is served by MTA Route 17 and Connect-a-Ride
Route K. Another route designated no. 16 operated express service from 1993 to 1995 between the North Linthicum Light Rail Stop and Ft. Meade/NSA before being replaced by a private carrier.
When Route 16 started, rush hour service operated every 30 minutes, and service at all other times was provided hourly. Sunday service along the route, which had not been provided on Route 22, was introduced.
In 2005, as part of the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative
, MTA proposed not only to double the frequency, but to modify the route in the Rosemont area to serve the Poplar Grove corridor, leaving Route 51
as the only bus serving the part of Rosemont of Route 16's previous route. The original routing plan would have operated along west from Gwynns Falls Parkway to Bloomingdale Avenue, and would then follow the routing of Route 15 up to Edmondson Avenue, as well as eliminated the Violetville deviation. After riders complained that the new route would not serve Coppin State College, a slight change was made to this modification, in which North Avenue would be used rather than Gwynns Falls Parkway. Also, Violetville service remained.
On October 8, 2006, the midday and Saturday frequency of Route 16 was doubled. On February 17, 2009, the routing changes were implemented. The peak hour frequency was also doubled to one bus every 15 minutes.
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...
. The line currently runs from the Mondawmin Metro Subway Station in Northwest Baltimore to Brooklyn Homes
Brooklyn, Baltimore
Brooklyn is one of the southernmost neighborhoods in Baltimore, Maryland. It is located near Anne Arundel County along Maryland Route 2. Its main roads are Potee Street, Hanover Street, and Patapsco Avenue. Often mistaken as Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn shares the 21225 ZIP Code with Brooklyn Park and...
in South Baltimore through the communities of Rosemont
Rosemont, Baltimore
Rosemont is a neighborhood in the western part of Baltimore, Maryland. Located below North Avenue, above Franklintown Road, East of Hilton Parkway, and West of Bloomingdale Avenue it is a working class African American neighborhood. It is immediately adjacent to Walbrook Junction and Leakin Park...
(serving Coppin State College) and the corridors of Hilton Street, Caton Avenue, and Patapsco Avenue. During peak hours, selected trips operate via Violetville Industrial Park
Violetville, Baltimore
Violetville is a neighborhood in southwest Baltimore, Maryland and Baltimore County. The community is characterized by its "well-kept 1950s and 60s era rowhouses and older farmhouses that date back to the turn of the previous century."...
.
History
Route 16 was introduced in January 2001 when Route 22Route 22 (MTA Maryland)
Route 22 is a bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore. The line currently operates between the Mondawmin Metro Subway Station and Bayview Medical Center, serving Television Hill, the Woodberry Light Rail Stop), Hampden, The Rotunda, Homewood, Johns Hopkins University,...
was split. Service along its route started in 1971 as 22 EXTENDED.
Much of the current route of Route 16 historically was not served by a single transit route. Portions that were include North Avenue, which has been served by the no. 13 streetcar since 1890 and also the No. 31 streetcar, which later became the No. 19 streetcar (and is currently Bus Route 91); both these lines currently overlap. Bloomingdale Avenue and Poplar Grove Street were served by the Nos. 4 and 35 streetcars (currently Bus Route 15. Service on Fish House Road (where Patapsco Avenue is now located) between Annapolis Road
Maryland Route 648
Maryland Route 648 is a collection of state highways in the U.S. state of Maryland. These highways are sections of Baltimore–Annapolis Boulevard, the old alignment of MD 2 between Annapolis and Glen Burnie. These segments were bypassed when MD 2 was moved to Governor Ritchie Highway, a...
and Brooklyn was provided by Short Line Routes.
The no. 16 designation has previously been used for several Baltimore area public transit routes, most notably a streetcar that operated from Reservoir Hill to Fells Point from 1893 to 1948, that operated as a bus line until 1956. Its route is currently served mostly by Bus Route 5. The no. 16 desination was also used for a bus route that operated from 1973 to 1989 between 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...
and BWI Airport, Odenton
Odenton, Maryland
Odenton is a census-designated place in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States. The population was 20,534 at the 2000 census. The town is named after former Governor of Maryland, Oden Bowie. It is bordered by Gambrills to the east, Severn to the north, Fort Meade to the west, and Crofton to...
, and Ft. Meade, before being replaced by two express buses designated Routes 230 and 240. The current route is served by MTA Route 17 and Connect-a-Ride
Connect-a-Ride
Connect-a-Ride is a bus service serving the greater Laurel, Maryland area and Anne Arundel County, Maryland and is managed by Central Maryland Rapid Transit...
Route K. Another route designated no. 16 operated express service from 1993 to 1995 between the North Linthicum Light Rail Stop and Ft. Meade/NSA before being replaced by a private carrier.
Origin
Route 22, which had been operating since 1947 along its current route, succeeding Route S, its parent route, had a very long route up until 2001 that in all served nearly ¾ the circumference of the city, and only selected trips operated along Route 16's route, with the remainder terminating at Mondawmin. Due to the length and confusion among riders, MTA decided that Route 16 service should be provided on a separate line.When Route 16 started, rush hour service operated every 30 minutes, and service at all other times was provided hourly. Sunday service along the route, which had not been provided on Route 22, was introduced.
In 2005, as part of the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative
Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative
GBBI redirects here. For the broadband index, see Government Broadband Index The Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative was a sweeping overhaul planned by the Maryland Transit Administration under the administration of then-Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich and his transportation secretary Robert...
, MTA proposed not only to double the frequency, but to modify the route in the Rosemont area to serve the Poplar Grove corridor, leaving Route 51
Route 51 (MTA Maryland)
Route 51 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 to the Patapsco Light Rail Stop, serving the communities of Arlington, Ashburton, Mondawmin, Rosemont, Baltimore, Cherry Hill,...
as the only bus serving the part of Rosemont of Route 16's previous route. The original routing plan would have operated along west from Gwynns Falls Parkway to Bloomingdale Avenue, and would then follow the routing of Route 15 up to Edmondson Avenue, as well as eliminated the Violetville deviation. After riders complained that the new route would not serve Coppin State College, a slight change was made to this modification, in which North Avenue would be used rather than Gwynns Falls Parkway. Also, Violetville service remained.
On October 8, 2006, the midday and Saturday frequency of Route 16 was doubled. On February 17, 2009, the routing changes were implemented. The peak hour frequency was also doubled to one bus every 15 minutes.