Route 33 (MTA Maryland)
Encyclopedia
Route 33 is a bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration
in Baltimore
. The line currently runs from the Rogers Avenue Metro Subway Station in Northwest Baltimore to a loop in Moravia in Northeast Baltimore. Service is provided about once every 10-15 minutes during rush hour, every 20 minutes midday, every 30 minutes on Saturdays, and hourly on Sundays. The line operates primarily along the cross-town corridor of Coldspring Lane and Moravia Road, transversing Arlington, Park Heights, Roland Park, Homeland
, and Montebello. The line passes several universities, including Loyola College, Notre Dame
, and Morgan State University
.
The no. 33 designation was previously used in Baltimore transit history for three other routes, including a streetcar that served the Arlington area, near a portion of the present Route 33. The other routes include a streetcar route along Hudson Street that operated 1920-24, and was merged into the no. 18 streetcar (currently bus route 7, and a bus that operated along Milton Street 1950-1954 that is now a part of Route 13.
The current Route 33 started operating in 1977. At that time, it was introduced as an experimental service, with expectations that it would not be successful. It ran on weekdays only during rush hour and midday, and there was no evening or weekend service. Its route was from Arlington to Morgan State only.
About a year later, the line was seen as somewhat of a success. Service was extended during rush hour to the current Moravia loop, and middays to Montebello State Hospital.
The line saw no further improvements until 1986. During that year, evening and Saturday service were added. On weekdays, the line operate until 10 PM, and on Saturdays, intervals were 90 minutes, the most service allowable with a single bus.
In 1993, the line was improved again. All trips were extended to the Moravia loop, and midday service was improved from intervals of 50 to 35 minutes. Evening hours were extended to midnight, and Saturday service was doubled to intervals of 45 minutes.
In 1995, Sunday service on this line was added, though it operated only once every 90 minutes, the previous Saturday frequency.
In 2005, as part of the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative
, the line saw an unplanned extension. The original plan was to extend Route 33 to Eastpoint Mall
via North Point Boulevard
, and to improve the frequency. But with a public outcry in response to the elimination of certain branches on other lines, particularly a deviation on Route 35, Route 33 was extended to provide bus service in those communities. Service that was extended to Eastpoint Mall
started operating via the Armistead Gardens
community. This resulted in a slight reduction in service frequency except on Sundays. But the frequency of service on this line, which had been proposed for an increase in the original phase of GBBI, was improved in 2006.
Three months later, the route was extended again about a mile to the Essex Park-and-Ride lot in order to improve efficiency in looping. An later modification shifted service from Eastern Avenue to Rolling Mill Road.
On August 30, 2009, all trips on Route 33 were shortened to the Moravia loop, and Route 24
was extended west from Middle River
to replace service south of Moravia.
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 Rogers Avenue Metro Subway Station in Northwest Baltimore to a loop in Moravia in Northeast Baltimore. Service is provided about once every 10-15 minutes during rush hour, every 20 minutes midday, every 30 minutes on Saturdays, and hourly on Sundays. The line operates primarily along the cross-town corridor of Coldspring Lane and Moravia Road, transversing Arlington, Park Heights, Roland Park, Homeland
Homeland, Baltimore
Homeland is a neighborhood located in the northern part of Baltimore, Maryland, United States. It is bounded roughly by Melrose Avenue on the north, Bellona Avenue on the east, Homeland Avenue on the south, and Charles Street on the west....
, and Montebello. The line passes several universities, including Loyola College, Notre Dame
College of Notre Dame of Maryland
Notre Dame of Maryland University is an independent, Catholic-affiliated, liberal arts college located in Baltimore, Maryland, United States, that primarily serves female students.-History:...
, and Morgan State University
Morgan State University
Morgan State University, formerly Centenary Biblical Institute , Morgan College and Morgan State College , is a historically black college in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Morgan is Maryland's designated public urban university and the largest HBCU in the state of Maryland...
.
History
The first bus route to operate along Coldspring Lane was the no. 35 bus, which operated briefly from 1968 to 1969 before being discontinued. The line performed well on AM trips operating to Morgan State, and PM trips from Morgan State, but reverse trips were nearly empty, thereby leading the route to be considered a failure at the time.The no. 33 designation was previously used in Baltimore transit history for three other routes, including a streetcar that served the Arlington area, near a portion of the present Route 33. The other routes include a streetcar route along Hudson Street that operated 1920-24, and was merged into the no. 18 streetcar (currently bus route 7, and a bus that operated along Milton Street 1950-1954 that is now a part of Route 13.
The current Route 33 started operating in 1977. At that time, it was introduced as an experimental service, with expectations that it would not be successful. It ran on weekdays only during rush hour and midday, and there was no evening or weekend service. Its route was from Arlington to Morgan State only.
About a year later, the line was seen as somewhat of a success. Service was extended during rush hour to the current Moravia loop, and middays to Montebello State Hospital.
The line saw no further improvements until 1986. During that year, evening and Saturday service were added. On weekdays, the line operate until 10 PM, and on Saturdays, intervals were 90 minutes, the most service allowable with a single bus.
In 1993, the line was improved again. All trips were extended to the Moravia loop, and midday service was improved from intervals of 50 to 35 minutes. Evening hours were extended to midnight, and Saturday service was doubled to intervals of 45 minutes.
In 1995, Sunday service on this line was added, though it operated only once every 90 minutes, the previous Saturday frequency.
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...
, the line saw an unplanned extension. The original plan was to extend Route 33 to Eastpoint Mall
Eastpoint Mall
Eastpoint Mall is a mall in Dundalk, Maryland. The mall currently has 140 stores, including its anchors Sears and JC Penney.The food court at the mall has been the site of retirees from World War II to reminisce....
via North Point Boulevard
Maryland Route 151
Maryland Route 151 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as North Point Boulevard, the state highway runs from 7th Street in Sparrows Point north to U.S. Route 1 in Baltimore...
, and to improve the frequency. But with a public outcry in response to the elimination of certain branches on other lines, particularly a deviation on Route 35, Route 33 was extended to provide bus service in those communities. Service that was extended to Eastpoint Mall
Eastpoint Mall
Eastpoint Mall is a mall in Dundalk, Maryland. The mall currently has 140 stores, including its anchors Sears and JC Penney.The food court at the mall has been the site of retirees from World War II to reminisce....
started operating via the Armistead Gardens
Armistead Gardens, Baltimore
Armistead Gardens is a neighborhood in the Northeast District of Baltimore. It is located north of Pulaski Highway and east of Erdman Avenue, between Herring Run Park and the East District neighborhood of Orangeville ....
community. This resulted in a slight reduction in service frequency except on Sundays. But the frequency of service on this line, which had been proposed for an increase in the original phase of GBBI, was improved in 2006.
Three months later, the route was extended again about a mile to the Essex Park-and-Ride lot in order to improve efficiency in looping. An later modification shifted service from Eastern Avenue to Rolling Mill Road.
On August 30, 2009, all trips on Route 33 were shortened to the Moravia loop, and Route 24
Route 24 (MTA Maryland)
Route 24 is a bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore and its suburbs. The line operates hourly between the Moravia loop in Northeast Baltimore and Whispering Woods, just east of Bowleys Quarters.-History:...
was extended west from Middle River
Middle River, Maryland
Middle River is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 23,958 at the 2000 census...
to replace service south of Moravia.