LocalLink 34 (BaltimoreLink)
| Company type | Public agency |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1973 |
Area served | Baltimore, Maryland and surrounding suburbs |
| Products | Bus services |
| Website | mta |
Route 34 is a bus service managed by the Maryland Transit Administration operating within Baltimore and its surrounding suburbs. It runs exclusively on weekdays, connecting the Reisterstown Plaza Metro Subway Station to Stevenson University during rush hours, and serves Greenspring Station during midday hours.
This route developed from the earlier Route 60 (prior to BaltimoreLink) and Route M-10, largely mirroring the pre-1992 M-10 alignment but excluding detours from Clarks Lane. Instead, it travels along Smith Avenue toward Mt. Washington, rather than following Old Pimlico Road to Falls Road.
History
Before 1950, the no. 47 streetcar serviced the Greenspring Avenue corridor and Cheswolde area, running from Mt. Washington along Kelly Avenue. Although planned as part of the Emory Grove Streetcar Line, this extension was never fully realized and was eventually discontinued.
On August 24, 2008, current Route 60 took over a segment previously covered by Route M-10. Since 1987, Route M-10 had provided transit to Greenspring Station and its vicinity, succeeding Route P-7, which operated from 1984 to 1987 with a comparable route.
Various routes have historically served Villa Julie College, now known as Stevenson University. Between 1973 and 1975, Route 58A connected Reisterstown Road Plaza with Greenwood via Villa Julie College before merging into Route 5 until 1984 when Metro connection services assumed coverage. From 1987 through 2005, Route M-12 covered Villa Julie, Greenwood, Stevenson, and Caves Road. Due to low ridership and several service reductions, M-12 was discontinued in 2005 under the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative, with an estimated subsidy of $9.41 per passenger. Following public resistance, Route M-10 was extended from Greenspring Station to Villa Julie; this segment is currently served by Route 60. Additionally, efforts to remove the portion of Route M-10 running along Falls Road were successfully opposed.
1984-1992
The year 1984 marked the opening of the Baltimore Metro Subway and the introduction of two new routes: Routes P-7 and R-2. Route P-7 linked Reisterstown Plaza Station with Ranchleigh via Fallstaff, whereas Route R-2 operated between Rogers Avenue Station and Mt. Washington through Cheswolde.
With the launch of Phase II of the Metro in 1987, Routes P-7 and R-2 were rebranded as M-10 and M-5, respectively. Both initially covered sections of Falls Road now served by Route 60. For a brief period, Route M-5 extended service to Towson State University via Ruxton before being discontinued.
1992-2008
In conjunction with the debut of the Baltimore Light Rail in 1992, Routes M-5 and M-10 consolidated into a single route designated as M-10. This combined line connected Reisterstown Plaza and Rogers Avenue Metro stations with Mt. Washington and the Falls Road Light Rail Stop, encompassing most of the original routes except for minor street segments. At this time, Saturday service was discontinued.
Saturday operations resumed in 1998; however, a twice-daily branch traveling via Old Court Road was eliminated. Sunday service was introduced three years later in 2001.
As part of the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative in 2005, service along Old Pimlico Road was discontinued. All trips were redirected through Mt. Washington via Smith Avenue, with weekday trips extended to Greenspring Station and peak-hour services continuing to Villa Julie College—replacing portions of the discontinued Route M-12. The route was truncated at Reisterstown Plaza Metro Station. Initial proposals had intended to eliminate all M-10 service on Falls Road entirely by rerouting along Route 58’s corridor.
Modifications in 2008
On August 24, 2008, the original Route M-10 was split into two separate routes: 58 and 60. Route 58 preserved the original segment from Reisterstown Plaza station up to the intersection of Smith and Greenspring, then extended its service through Greenspring to reach the newly developed Quarry Lake area. Meanwhile, Route 60 provided uninterrupted coverage along the entire stretch of Clarks Lane, servicing all locations east of Greenspring that were previously part of M-10.
Due to concerns raised by residents of Quarry Lake regarding bus traffic, Route 58 was modified in February 2009 to terminate at Mt. Washington. At the same time, Route 60 increased its frequency of service to Mt. Washington as well.