CityLink Orange (BaltimoreLink)
| Company type | Public transit bus route |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Predecessor | 14 Ellicott City streetcar, 23 Back and Middle Rivers streetcar, East Fayette Street streetcar lines |
| Founded | 1897 (as streetcar line) |
| Headquarters | Baltimore , United States |
Area served | Baltimore and surrounding suburbs |
| Products | Bus transportation services |
| Parent | Maryland Transit Administration |
CityLink Orange (OR) is a bus route managed by the Maryland Transit Administration that operates throughout Baltimore and its surrounding suburbs. The line extends from the Wal-Mart lot in Catonsville, Maryland eastward through downtown Baltimore, reaching the Fox Ridge neighborhood in Essex. This route traverses major corridors such as Edmondson Avenue on the western side and Eastern Avenue to the east, linking communities including Edmondson Village, Allendale, Rosemont, Patterson Park, and Eastpoint. It is recognized as one of the busiest routes within the MTA network.
CityLink Orange is the successor to the former 14 Ellicott City, 23 Back and Middle Rivers, and East Fayette Street streetcar lines.
History
Route 23 originated as an electrified rail streetcar service connecting Middle River to downtown Baltimore in 1897, largely following its current path. This streetcar line operated until 1942 before being replaced by bus service. At that time, Route 23 did not cover Baltimore’s west side; that area was mainly served by the no. 14 streetcar. Meanwhile, service through Essex and Middle River was provided by the Back River Trolley.
In 1942, the no. 23 streetcar was discontinued and substituted with Bus Route P, which ran until 1950. The no. 23 designation was reinstated on January 22, 1950; however, westside service commenced only in 1954 when Route 23 incorporated a segment of the former Route 14, extending westward to Catonsville via US 40 and Edmondson Avenue to serve Edmondson Village. Consequently, the full route spanned from Edmondson Village to Middle River.
Over time, additional trips were added on both ends of Route 23 to serve various neighborhoods:
- West side
- Social Security Administration (service eliminated in the initial phase of the GBBI, now covered by Route 40)
- US-40 and Rolling Road (primary western terminus, presently at Catonsville Wal-Mart parking lot)
- Wildwood Parkway (served by selected trips)
- East side
- Bayview Medical Center (served on all trips)
- Fox Ridge (present eastern terminus)
- Hawthorne (discontinued during early GBBI phase)
- Oliver Beach (replaced by Route 160)
- Pulaski Industrial Park (transferred to Route 24 during GBBI)
- Victory Villa (served by Route 24 since 1993; currently exclusively by Route 4)
- Wilson Point (discontinued during GBBI)
The branches serving Hawthorne, Wilson Point, and Victory Villa originated from the now-defunct Rosedale Passenger Lines, which operated shuttle connections to Route 23.
Route 23 experienced criticism for overcrowded vehicles, unreliable and slow service, and limited coverage in some areas. In response during the 1990s, MTA increased frequency on heavily trafficked branches. Service to Oliver Beach was shifted to express Route 160 to improve travel times, with some trips starting at Fox Ridge. In 1993, Route 24 was adjusted to provide enhanced midday and weekend service to Victory Villa, facilitating transfers with Route 23 downtown.
As part of the 2005 Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative, significant modifications were made to Route 23. Initially planned to operate solely between Catonsville and Fox Ridge with other branches eliminated or reassigned, public opposition led to retention of the Wildwood branch. Downtown routing changed from Saratoga Street to Fayette and Baltimore Streets depending on travel direction. Additionally, service in East Baltimore moved from Grundy/Haven Streets to Bayview Boulevard to better serve Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.
Service frequency was substantially reduced: rush hour intervals increased from every 7–8 minutes to every 15 minutes; midday service shifted from every 10–12 minutes to every 15; Saturday frequency dropped from every 15 minutes to every half hour; Sunday buses went from every half hour to hourly. The savings funded a new limited-stop service—Route 40 ("QuickBus")—which parallels much of Route 23’s path but serves Security Boulevard instead of Catonsville for faster transit times.
The October 23, 2005 changes sparked rider dissatisfaction due to diminished service levels and inconvenient rerouting. Businesses along Saratoga Street reported substantial declines in customers following bus route changes. In response, on February 26, 2006, MTA revised Route 23’s alignment to resume serving Saratoga Street businesses while retaining portions of its Fayette/Baltimore Street routing.
East of Middle River
As of April 2023, Route 23 ceased operations beyond Back River Neck Road. Travelers heading along the Eastern Boulevard corridor past this location are required to switch to alternative routes. This area is serviced by multiple other lines: Route 4 operates between North Point Boulevard and Martin Boulevard, while Route 24 provides consistent service connecting Middle River with Whispering Woods. Furthermore, Route 160 runs four express trips daily to and from Oliver Beach.
In popular culture
In season 5, episode 2 of The Wire, Detective Jimmy McNulty is seen boarding the 23 Edmondson Village bus en route to a crime scene.