Route 77 (MTA Maryland)
Encyclopedia
Route 77 is a bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration
in the suburbs of Baltimore
. The line currently runs from the Old Court Metro Subway Station in Pikesville, Maryland
to the Patapsco Light Rail Stop, and serves Randallstown
, Windsor Mill, Woodlawn
, Catonsville, Arbutus
, Halethorpe, and Landsdowne, and the campuses of UMBC and CCBC Catonsville
(formerly Catonsville Community College).
. It started operating in 1974 as an experimental service, originating from the central business district
of Pikesville, and terminating at UMBC.
Prior to its introduction, most of the route of Route 77 was not served by any bus lines. For a brief period in 1966, a shuttle service identified as Route 35 operated between UMBC and Catonsville Community College. Streetcar followed by bus service operated in the Halethorpe area. Route 20 operated between Security Square
and Westview Mall
s along a different route, and a branch of Route 44
served Rutherford Business Park (and continued to until 2005).
At that time, service was provided on weekdays only, with rush hour service operating only once every 40 minutes and midday service provided every 50 minutes. The line, which was designed to provide service for the students of UMBC and Catonsville Community College, and had its schedule coordinated to the classes of these two institutions, did not provide service out of Pikesville before 6:30 AM or UMBC before 7:30 AM. Within the decades that followed, the line performed above expectations, drawing riders from far beyond the college crowd, and proving that a cross-county (suburb-to-suburb) bus route could succeed in the Baltimore area.
In 1987, in conjunction with the opening of the Old Court Metro Subway Station, and the extension of Route M-2 to this location, the station also became the new northern terminus for Route 77. Some trips operated along the old route to Pikesville during a period of time when Old Court Station was closed at night. This portion was discontinued in 2005.
In 1995, selected trips were extended south of UMBC to the Patapsco Light Rail Stop through the Halethorpe area, providing improved connections. The frequency was also slightly improved.
In 1997, Saturday service was added. At first, it operated only between Old Court and Security Square Mall
, but it was later extended to UMBC. Sunday service was added in 2001.
In 2005, as part of the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative
, all trips were extended to the Patapsco Light Rail Stop, and the route was slightly changed to replace a portion of Route 31, which was merged into other routes. Midday and Saturday service was increased to one bus every 30 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 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 line currently runs from the Old Court Metro Subway Station in Pikesville, Maryland
Pikesville, Maryland
Pikesville is a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. Pikesville is just northwest of the Baltimore city limits. It is the northwestern suburb closest to Baltimore.The population was 29,123 at the 2000 census...
to the Patapsco Light Rail Stop, and serves Randallstown
Randallstown, Maryland
Randallstown is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It is named after Christopher and Thomas Randall, two 18th-century tavern-keepers. At that time, Randallstown was a tollgate crossroads on the Liberty Turnpike, a major east-west...
, Windsor Mill, Woodlawn
Woodlawn, Maryland
Woodlawn is the name of some places in the U.S. state of Maryland:*Woodlawn, Baltimore County, Maryland*Woodlawn, Prince George's County, Maryland...
, Catonsville, Arbutus
Arbutus, Maryland
As of the 2010 Census Arbutus had a population of 20,583. The racial and ethnic compositon of the population was 76.6% non-Hispanic white, 9.5% non-Hispanic black, 0.2% Native American, 2.1% Asian Indian, 6.5% other Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.2% non-Hispanic from some other race, 2.3% from...
, Halethorpe, and Landsdowne, and the campuses of UMBC and CCBC Catonsville
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 :...
(formerly Catonsville Community College).
History
Route 77 was one of the first cross-county bus lines in Baltimore County, MarylandBaltimore County, Maryland
Baltimore County is a county located in the northern part of the US state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 805,029. It is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Towson. The name of the county was derived from the barony of the Proprietor of the Maryland...
. It started operating in 1974 as an experimental service, originating from the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Pikesville, and terminating at UMBC.
Prior to its introduction, most of the route of Route 77 was not served by any bus lines. For a brief period in 1966, a shuttle service identified as Route 35 operated between UMBC and Catonsville Community College. Streetcar followed by bus service operated in the Halethorpe area. Route 20 operated between Security Square
Security Square Mall
Security Square Mall is a large mall in the suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland, United States. The mall features over 100 stores and restaurants, as well as a food court, with Burlington Coat Factory, Macy's, Old Navy and Sears serving as anchor stores. One section of the mall, Seoul Plaza, used to...
and Westview Mall
Westview Mall
Westview Mall was an indoor mall located in Catonsville, Maryland. The mall originally opened in 1958 as an outdoor strip mall, but was later converted into an indoor shopping center . The original anchors were Hutzler's and Stewart's although Stewart's became Caldor in 1983...
s along a different route, and a branch of Route 44
Route 44 (MTA Maryland)
Route 44 is a bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore and its suburbs. The line currently runs from Rosedale Industrial Park near Pulaski Highway just outside the Baltimore city limits on the east side of the city across the northern portion of the city to Security...
served Rutherford Business Park (and continued to until 2005).
At that time, service was provided on weekdays only, with rush hour service operating only once every 40 minutes and midday service provided every 50 minutes. The line, which was designed to provide service for the students of UMBC and Catonsville Community College, and had its schedule coordinated to the classes of these two institutions, did not provide service out of Pikesville before 6:30 AM or UMBC before 7:30 AM. Within the decades that followed, the line performed above expectations, drawing riders from far beyond the college crowd, and proving that a cross-county (suburb-to-suburb) bus route could succeed in the Baltimore area.
In 1987, in conjunction with the opening of the Old Court Metro Subway Station, and the extension of Route M-2 to this location, the station also became the new northern terminus for Route 77. Some trips operated along the old route to Pikesville during a period of time when Old Court Station was closed at night. This portion was discontinued in 2005.
In 1995, selected trips were extended south of UMBC to the Patapsco Light Rail Stop through the Halethorpe area, providing improved connections. The frequency was also slightly improved.
In 1997, Saturday service was added. At first, it operated only between Old Court and Security Square Mall
Security Square Mall
Security Square Mall is a large mall in the suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland, United States. The mall features over 100 stores and restaurants, as well as a food court, with Burlington Coat Factory, Macy's, Old Navy and Sears serving as anchor stores. One section of the mall, Seoul Plaza, used to...
, but it was later extended to UMBC. Sunday service was added in 2001.
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...
, all trips were extended to the Patapsco Light Rail Stop, and the route was slightly changed to replace a portion of Route 31, which was merged into other routes. Midday and Saturday service was increased to one bus every 30 minutes.