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Route 56 (MTA Maryland)
Encyclopedia
Route 56 is a bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration
in the suburbs of Baltimore
. The route currently runs from the Owings Mills Town Center
to Glyndon via Reisterstown Road
and the Owings Mills Metro Subway Station. The line, which was a split-off from the final version of the now defunct Route M-9, and resembles the former Route M-16 that operated from 1987 to 1998.
The no. 56 designation was once previously used in Baltimore transit history
for a line that operated from Murray Hill (near Rodgers Forge
) to Bedford Square (near Charles Village). This line operated from 1948 to 1953 before being merged into the current Route 11, the main bus route for the Charles Street
corridor.
, providing transit along all parts of Reisterstown Road in Baltimore County. The no. 5 streetcar had the most northern terminus of all Baltimore streetcars. At this time, the corridor was far less developed than it is today.
and Canton along the same route as the present no. 7 line. Even after the line was shortened in 1984 in favor of shorter Metro feeder buses, Route 7 buses continued to operate along this full route hourly on Sundays until 2001, when the Metro connection buses started to operate 7 days a week, some 24 hours a day.
, several bus routes in the northwest section of the Baltimore area, including Route 7, were shortened, and portions of them were replaced with various feeder buses that brought riders into various Metro stations. A new Route P-1 was formed that operated between the new Reisterstown Plaza Metro Subway Station and Reisterstown during Metro's hours of operation.
In 1999, the destination signs on Route M-9 were changed from "Reisterstown" to "Glyndon" to avoid confusion caused by buses along Painters Mill Road and at the Owings Mills Metro Station and Town Center that were traveling in opposite directions (southbound buses had flashed between "Reisterstown" and Plaza Station.".
In 2000, the Chartley branch was discontinued. For a brief period of time, the trips that once operated to Chartley were laying over
at a loop near a Food Lion
supermarket in Reisterstown, but due to complaints from residents of this neighborhood, these trips were later rerouted to the Glyndon loop along Hanover Pike
where all other buses lay over.
In 2007, it was proposed that the line would be split into two routes, numbered 56 and 59, that would be similar to the pre-1997 routes M-9 and M-16, but with higher frequencies. This change, which went into effect on February 17, 2008, was planned in order to improve schedule adherence on both routes. At the same time, trips via Dolfield Road were discontinued, and all trips on Route 56 operate via Painter Mill Road to Reisterstown Road.
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 the suburbs of 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 route currently runs from the Owings Mills Town Center
Owings Mills Town Center
Owings Mills Town Center is a proposed $220 million development in Owings Mills, Maryland aimed at creating a downtown meeting place on the land between the Owings Mills Metro Station and Owings Mills Mall. The complex would include housing, shops, office space, a hotel, a library, and a community...
to Glyndon via Reisterstown Road
Maryland Route 140
Maryland Route 140 is a local long route in northern Maryland, United States.-Route description:MD 140 is known by various names depending on location; south of Reisterstown it is known as Reisterstown Road. Though Reisterstown itself is named after John Reister, the road is named after Jacob...
and the Owings Mills Metro Subway Station. The line, which was a split-off from the final version of the now defunct Route M-9, and resembles the former Route M-16 that operated from 1987 to 1998.
History
Route 56 has only been operating under this designation since February 17, 2008. Its route, however, has a long history of being served by other bus and streetcar lines.The no. 56 designation was once previously used in Baltimore transit history
History of MTA Maryland
The Maryland Transit Administration was originally known as the Baltimore Metropolitan Transit Authority, then the Maryland Mass Transit Administration before it changed to its current name...
for a line that operated from Murray Hill (near Rodgers Forge
Rodgers Forge, Maryland
Rodgers Forge is a neighborhood located in the unincorporated Towson area of Baltimore County, Maryland, just north of the Baltimore City/County line. It is mostly a residential area, with rowhouses, apartments, single family dwellings, and a new complex of luxury garaged townhomes. The area also...
) to Bedford Square (near Charles Village). This line operated from 1948 to 1953 before being merged into the current Route 11, the main bus route for the Charles Street
Maryland Route 139
Maryland Route 139, known locally for most of its existence as North Charles Street, runs through Baltimore City and through the Towson area of Baltimore County. On the north end it terminates at a traffic circle with Bellona Avenue near Interstate 695 and at the south end it terminates in Federal...
corridor.
1916 to 1932
Service on Reisterstown Road was provided by the No. 5 Streetcar Line, which ran from Emory Grove to Patterson ParkPatterson Park
Patterson Park is a public park in Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States. The park is bordered by East Baltimore Street on the north, Eastern Avenue on the south, South Patterson Park Avenue on the west, and South Linwood Avenue on the east...
, providing transit along all parts of Reisterstown Road in Baltimore County. The no. 5 streetcar had the most northern terminus of all Baltimore streetcars. At this time, the corridor was far less developed than it is today.
1932 to 1948
In 1932, the no. 5 streetcar was shortened to Pikesville. Service between Pikesville and Emory Grove was provided by Bus Route M (no relationship to M-lines).1948 to 1959
In 1948, the no. 5 streetcar was completely converted to a bus operated. The new line was identified as the no. 5/7 line.1959 to 1984
In 1959, the no. 5/7 line was split into two separate lines with these designations. The no. 7 bus line provided service on all parts of Reisterstown Road from Glyndon to Pennsylvania and North Avenues, then continued along Pennsylvania Avenue to downtown BaltimoreDowntown 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 Canton along the same route as the present no. 7 line. Even after the line was shortened in 1984 in favor of shorter Metro feeder buses, Route 7 buses continued to operate along this full route hourly on Sundays until 2001, when the Metro connection buses started to operate 7 days a week, some 24 hours a day.
1984 to 1987
On June 18, 1984, in conjunction with the opening of the Baltimore Metro SubwayBaltimore Metro Subway
The Baltimore Metro Subway, known locally as the Metro Subway, The Subway, or Baltimore Metro is a rapid transit line serving the greater Baltimore, Maryland, United States area and operated by the Maryland Transit Administration...
, several bus routes in the northwest section of the Baltimore area, including Route 7, were shortened, and portions of them were replaced with various feeder buses that brought riders into various Metro stations. A new Route P-1 was formed that operated between the new Reisterstown Plaza Metro Subway Station and Reisterstown during Metro's hours of operation.
1987 to 1997
On August 31, 1987, in conjunction with the extension of the Metro to Owings Mills, all P-lines were replaced with M-lines. Route P-1 north of Painters Mill Road was replaced with a new Route M-16, which fed into the new Owings Mills Station. The new M-9 line provided service on Reisterstown Road between Patterson Avenue and Painters Mill Road.1997 to 2008
In 1997, Route M-16 was combined with Route M-9, which was extended to Reisterstown, with selected trips to Chartley (then a branch of Route M-16). This provided single-seat service along all portions of Reisterstown Road in Baltimore County, as well as improved midday and Saturday service to Route M-16 and to the Owings Mills Town Center. A new Route M-17 was also formed that provided peak hour service to the Owings Mills Corporate Campus and the Business Center at Owings Mills. Sunday service was added in 2001 that was identical to the Saturday schedule.In 1999, the destination signs on Route M-9 were changed from "Reisterstown" to "Glyndon" to avoid confusion caused by buses along Painters Mill Road and at the Owings Mills Metro Station and Town Center that were traveling in opposite directions (southbound buses had flashed between "Reisterstown" and Plaza Station.".
In 2000, the Chartley branch was discontinued. For a brief period of time, the trips that once operated to Chartley were laying over
Layover
In transportation, a layover, also known as lays over or stopover, is some form of a break between parts of a single trip.-In mass transit:...
at a loop near a Food Lion
Food Lion
Food Lion LLC is an American grocery store company headquartered in Salisbury, North Carolina that operates approximately 1,300 supermarkets in 11 Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states as well as Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia under the Food Lion, Harveys Supermarket, Bloom, Bottom Dollar...
supermarket in Reisterstown, but due to complaints from residents of this neighborhood, these trips were later rerouted to the Glyndon loop along Hanover Pike
Maryland Route 30
Maryland Route 30 is a state highway in Central Maryland region in the U.S. state of Maryland. It serves as one of the major north–south routes of central Maryland.-Route description:...
where all other buses lay over.
In 2007, it was proposed that the line would be split into two routes, numbered 56 and 59, that would be similar to the pre-1997 routes M-9 and M-16, but with higher frequencies. This change, which went into effect on February 17, 2008, was planned in order to improve schedule adherence on both routes. At the same time, trips via Dolfield Road were discontinued, and all trips on Route 56 operate via Painter Mill Road to Reisterstown Road.