LocalLink 30 (BaltimoreLink)
| Company type | Bus service |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Predecessor | Route 44 |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Headquarters | Baltimore , United States |
Area served | Baltimore and suburbs |
| Products | Bus transit service |
| Parent | Maryland Transit Administration |
LocalLink 30 operates as a bus service managed by the Maryland Transit Administration within Baltimore and its surrounding suburbs. This route succeeded the former route 44 after the comprehensive 2017 BaltimoreLink bus system restructuring. It travels from the Rosedale Industrial Park, situated near Pulaski Highway just outside Baltimore’s eastern boundary, traversing the city's northern areas to reach Security Square Mall. Certain peak-hour trips extend to the Social Security Administration. Early morning journeys before 7 AM terminate at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) headquarters. The corridor predominantly follows Frankford Avenue, Echodale Avenue, East Belvedere Avenue, Northern Parkway, Rogers Avenue, and Gwynn Oak Avenue, serving neighborhoods such as Gardenville, Hamilton, Belvedere Park, Homeland, Roland Park, Pimlico, Arlington, and the western suburb of Woodlawn.
History
Prior to the establishment of Route 44 in the 1940s, no single transit line covered its present route in full. However, segments of Route 44 trace back to the Nos. 32 and 33 Streetcar Lines along with Bus Route D, which operated before Northern Parkway was developed. The no. 32 Streetcar served the Liberty Heights corridor up to Gwynn Oak Avenue, branching off toward Woodlawn and Arlington. The no. 33 streetcar linked Gwynn Oak with Park Heights Avenue before proceeding downtown. Bus Route D connected Pimlico and Overlea via Lake Avenue, Belvedere, Echodale, and Frankford to Belair Road.
Origin
Service on Route 44 commenced in 1946, initially running between the Gwynn Oak Park loop in Woodlawn and Frankford and Cedella, later extending eastward to the Hollander Ridge housing projects in East Baltimore. The route’s extensions mirrored urban growth and suburban expansion, notably accommodating the Social Security Administration’s Woodlawn headquarters when it opened in 1960.
In 1973, a branch was introduced to cover Brighton, including stops at Reisterstown Road Plaza and the Cross Country neighborhood, operating with limited trips on weekdays and Saturdays.
Following the demolition of Hollander Ridge housing projects in 2000, the terminus shifted to Rosedale Industrial Park.
Under the 2005 Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative, all trips originating from Gwynn Oak were extended to Security Square Mall by integrating Route M-6 into Route 44. This change enhanced service frequency but resulted in the discontinuation of the Brighton branch. Although direct service within Brighton ceased, nearby coverage continued via Route M-10 (currently Route 58).
Proposals to reroute Route 44 to serve Mt. Washington Light Rail Stop were ultimately abandoned due to increased travel duration and limited turning options near Sinai Hospital.
The October 23, 2005 system revision drew criticism mainly because of Route M-6’s elimination rather than alterations affecting Route 44 directly. Passengers reported diminished reliability and loss of direct access along streets previously served by M-6.
In response to these concerns, MTA reinstated limited M-6 service in March 2006 and restored full operations by October while keeping Route 44’s frequency unchanged. This effectively doubled transit availability between Rogers Avenue and Security Square Mall during most hours.
June 2011
The service interval was modified to a 20-minute schedule, with alternate trips ending at Rogers Avenue Metro Subway Station.