Route 4 (MTA Maryland)
Encyclopedia
Route 4 is a bus route in the suburbs of Baltimore
. The line currently runs from the Essex campus of the Community College of Baltimore County
to Turner's Station in Dundalk
. The current route serves the Rosedale
, Middle River
, and Essex
areas and the CCBC Essex and Dundalk campuses.
and Dundalk, with southbound trips operating along North Point Road and Wise Avenue, and northbound trips operating along Merritt Boulevard. Another route identified as Route 4A operated briefly between Eastpoint and Logan Village between 1977 and 1978, but it was quickly eliminated.
that runs from Towson to Fox Ridge) from 1948 to 1952, then by Dundalk Bus Lines.
Service to Ft. Howard Veterans Hospital was added in 1973 after Route 4 absorbed Route 9, which had operated between 1971 and 1973. Ft. Howard had previously been served by streetcars. The no. 26 streetcar line had provided service to Ft. Howard. Service was replaced in 1952 by Dundalk Bus Lines.
The no. 4 designation was used in the past for a line that operated in West Baltimore as a streetcar from 1894 to 1935 and as a bus line from 1935 to 1954. The service was then absorbed into Route 15, which still operates along that route to this day.
through Essex
and Rosedale
, and south from the Dundalk loop to Turner's Station, and the route was slightly modified to serve the CCBC Dundalk campus. For the first time, single-seat bus service became available between the two CCBC east-side campuses.
This service initially operated through Essex along Mace Avenue, a street where buses were previously opposed by the community. As a result of community opposition, Route 4 was soon shifted to Rossville Boulevard, the same route as Route 55.
In addition to these extensions, the frequency of service was improved. Rush hour service operated every 40 minutes, and off-peak service hourly. Selected trips also served the Yellow Brick Road industrial Park in Golden Ring.
Service along the original part of the route remain unchanged. Northbound trips continued to follow the Merritt Boulevard corridor, while southbound trips used North Point Road and Wise Avenue, requiring riders to change buses on the same line to return to the area they originally left.
, Route 4 underwent a major overhaul. This included:
that was previously served by the truncated Route 24
. Route 24 was later extended in a different direction to Moravia.
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 Essex campus of the Community College of Baltimore County
Community College of Baltimore County
The Community College of Baltimore County is an accredited community college located in Baltimore County, Maryland in the United States with three main campuses and two extension centers.- Programs and enrollment :...
to Turner's Station in Dundalk
Dundalk, Maryland
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 62,306 people, 24,772 households, and 16,968 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 4,689.5 people per square mile . There were 26,385 housing units at an average density of 1,985.9 per square mile...
. The current route serves the Rosedale
Rosedale, Maryland
Rosedale is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 19,199 at the 2000 census.- History :...
, 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...
, and Essex
Essex, Maryland
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 39,078 people, 15,952 households, and 10,336 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 4,104.1 people per square mile . There were 16,997 housing units at an average density of 1,785.1 per square mile...
areas and the CCBC Essex and Dundalk campuses.
History
Route 4 started operating on November 15, 1971 between Eastpoint MallEastpoint 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....
and Dundalk, with southbound trips operating along North Point Road and Wise Avenue, and northbound trips operating along Merritt Boulevard. Another route identified as Route 4A operated briefly between Eastpoint and Logan Village between 1977 and 1978, but it was quickly eliminated.
Predecessors
Service along North Point Road prior to the existence of route 4 had previously been provided by the Baltimore Transit Company's Route H from 1925 to 1948 and Route 55 (no relationship to current Route 55Route 55 (MTA Maryland)
Route 55 is a bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore and its suburbs. The line currently runs from Towson to Fox Ridge, serving Parkville, Overlea, Rosedale, and Essex, and the Essex campus of the Community College of Baltimore County .-History:Route 55 started...
that runs from Towson to Fox Ridge) from 1948 to 1952, then by Dundalk Bus Lines.
Service to Ft. Howard Veterans Hospital was added in 1973 after Route 4 absorbed Route 9, which had operated between 1971 and 1973. Ft. Howard had previously been served by streetcars. The no. 26 streetcar line had provided service to Ft. Howard. Service was replaced in 1952 by Dundalk Bus Lines.
The no. 4 designation was used in the past for a line that operated in West Baltimore as a streetcar from 1894 to 1935 and as a bus line from 1935 to 1954. The service was then absorbed into Route 15, which still operates along that route to this day.
Elimination of Ft. Howard service
In 1993, Route 4 service to Ft. Howard, which had been cut in half less than a year earlier, was eliminated completely, and service the remaining parts of the line was reduced to one bus every 70 minutes. The proposal to eliminate service to Ft. Howard drew protests that were filmed by local news stations. A private contractor was chartered to provide this service following elimination. In 1997, MTA once again started to run a bus to Ft. Howard. A new Route 6 that ran from Eastpoint Mall to Ft. Howard, mostly via North Point Road, was briefly added in 1997, but was discontinued a year later.Extension to White Marsh
In 2000, MTA extended Route 4 from Eastpoint Mall to White Marsh MallWhite Marsh Mall
White Marsh Mall is a shopping mall in the unincorporated and planned community of White Marsh in Baltimore County, Maryland, USA. The White Marsh Mall is one of the largest regional malls in the Baltimore area, with 5 anchor stores and 142 specialty shops in ....
through Essex
Essex, Maryland
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 39,078 people, 15,952 households, and 10,336 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 4,104.1 people per square mile . There were 16,997 housing units at an average density of 1,785.1 per square mile...
and Rosedale
Rosedale, Maryland
Rosedale is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 19,199 at the 2000 census.- History :...
, and south from the Dundalk loop to Turner's Station, and the route was slightly modified to serve the CCBC Dundalk campus. For the first time, single-seat bus service became available between the two CCBC east-side campuses.
This service initially operated through Essex along Mace Avenue, a street where buses were previously opposed by the community. As a result of community opposition, Route 4 was soon shifted to Rossville Boulevard, the same route as Route 55.
In addition to these extensions, the frequency of service was improved. Rush hour service operated every 40 minutes, and off-peak service hourly. Selected trips also served the Yellow Brick Road industrial Park in Golden Ring.
Service along the original part of the route remain unchanged. Northbound trips continued to follow the Merritt Boulevard corridor, while southbound trips used North Point Road and Wise Avenue, requiring riders to change buses on the same line to return to the area they originally left.
Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative changes
In 2005, as part of the Greater Baltimore Bus InitiativeGreater 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...
, Route 4 underwent a major overhaul. This included:
- Shortening the north end of the route. Its original planned terminus was Franklin Square Hospital, but this was later changed to the CCBC Essex Campus in response to complaints of the loss of Route 35 service directly to the campus. Riders wishing to reach White Marsh were directed to transfer to Route 35.
- Northbound trips were to be modified to operated via the southbound route of North Point Road and Wise Avenue. No bus service was provided in the Merritt Boulevard area, and riders wishing to reach this area were directed to walk up to a mile to Eastpoint Mall or Wise Avenue.
- Trips via Yellow Brick Road Industrial Park were eliminated. MTA stated that only 11 riders used this branch daily, requiring of taxpayer subsidy of $5.28 each. In a schedule published in early 2006, a small number of these trips were reinstated.
- Rush hour service was reduced to one bus an hour, which became the frequency at all times. Route 4 alternated buses with Route 24Route 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:...
, providing more efficient service on both lines, until February 2009, when Route 24 was shortened. When a Route 4 bus reached the CCBC Essex campus, the next trip made by the vehicle was as Route 24, and vice versa.
Middle River modification
In February 2009, Route 4 was modified in the Middle River area to serve the corridor of Martin BoulevardMaryland Route 700
Maryland Route 700 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known as Martin Boulevard, the state highway runs from MD 150 in Middle River north to U.S. Route 40 in Rossville. MD 700 was constructed as a defense access road in 1941 to improve access to the aircraft manufacturing plant...
that was previously served by the truncated 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:...
. Route 24 was later extended in a different direction to Moravia.
External links
- Route 4 map and schedule, effective August 29, 2010