LocalLink 52 (BaltimoreLink)
| Company type | Public transit service |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Predecessor | Route 12 |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Headquarters | Baltimore , United States |
Area served | Baltimore and surrounding suburban areas, Maryland |
| Owner | Maryland Transit Administration |
Route 52 is a bus service managed by the Maryland Transit Administration operating within Baltimore and its surrounding suburban areas. This route specifically caters to staff commuting to Stella Maris, a cluster of long term care facilities located in Timonium, Maryland. Under the BaltimoreLink initiative, Route 52 succeeded Route 12.
History
The inception of Route 52 dates back to 2005 when it was originally designated as Route 12, taking over from the Stella Maris segment of Route 8, which was discontinued during the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative. Initially, this segment was planned for complete elimination without replacement. However, due to community advocacy, MTA maintained service by introducing Route 12, which continued to operate from the Lutherville Light Rail Stop at the established times. The rationale for preserving this route was that Stella Maris operates as a non-profit entity, differentiating it from other former Route 8 branches that served commercial employers.
The initial path of Route 12 in 2005 followed Ridgely Road and Dulaney Valley Road. Nevertheless, following opposition from residents in Timonium, the route underwent two alterations in February 2006. On February 5, it was redirected through Cranbrook Road and local streets in Cockeysville. Subsequently, on February 19, the route was realigned to travel along York Road, Fairmount Avenue, and Dulaney Valley Road, closely mirroring the prior Route 8 branch.
On August 24, 2008, changes were made to Route 12 to connect Stella Maris with Greenmount and North Avenues, thereby improving direct transfers to bus routes 13, 22, 33, 44, and 55. These transfer points were found to be more heavily utilized than connections to the light rail; passengers wishing to access light rail services were advised to transfer via Route 8.
At present, Route 12 stands as one of only two MTA bus routes dedicated exclusively to serving a single employer, the other being Route 104, which serves Johns Hopkins Hospital.
BaltimoreLink
On June 18, 2017, LocalLink 52 fully replaced Route 12 as part of the comprehensive BaltimoreLink transit system redesign.
External links
- Route 12 map and schedule, effective July 3, 2011