LocalLink 75 (BaltimoreLink)
| Company type | Public transit bus route |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Predecessor | Route 17, Route 230 |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Headquarters | Baltimore , United States |
Area served | Baltimore and surrounding suburbs, Anne Arundel County, Maryland |
| Products | Bus services |
| Owner | Maryland Transit Administration |
LocalLink 75 is a bus route managed by the Maryland Transit Administration that operates within Baltimore and its surrounding suburbs. The route connects the Patapsco Light Rail Stop with Arundel Mills in Anne Arundel County, passing through BWI Airport. Additionally, it provides service to the University of Maryland during periods when the light rail is not in operation.
History
Since its establishment in 1973, Route 75 has experienced extensive modifications, with only about three miles of the original 27-mile stretch still in use. A significant portion of its initial alignment, particularly along Maryland Route 177, no longer receives public transit service.
The current configuration of the route has developed from various discontinued lines and has been subject to multiple budget reductions, which have led to diminished service levels and threats of complete discontinuation.
Initially known as Route 17, it commenced operations in 1973 running between downtown Baltimore and Gibson Island, covering the corridors of Annapolis Road/Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard and Mountain Road within Anne Arundel County. This included stops in communities such as Linthicum, Glen Burnie, and Pasadena.
The Route 17 designation was formerly assigned to a streetcar line operating along the St. Paul Street corridor from 1893 until 1938. Converted to bus service in 1939 and extended to Westport, this route was eventually replaced in 1947. A separate and unrelated Route 17 operated briefly on East East Fayette Street during 1949–50 prior to the introduction of the current Route 17.
During the 1980s, the route was shortened from Gibson Island to Lake Shore Plaza after Gibson Island became private with restricted access; ridership on that segment was minimal. Certain trips terminated at Pinewood Village within Harundale.
Route 17 did not include service to BWI Airport until 1993. Between 1973 and 1989, airport transit was provided by Route 16, which connected downtown Baltimore with Odenton. This service was replaced in 1989 by Route 230, which offered limited express trips until the light rail's expansion into Anne Arundel County in 1993 led to local bus routes assuming responsibility for airport transportation.
Opening of Central Light Rail
Following the inauguration of the Central Light Rail line serving South Baltimore and Anne Arundel County, Route 17 underwent a series of phased adjustments.
In September 1992, it was converted into a feeder bus route truncated at the Patapsco Light Rail Stop, thereby removing its downtown Baltimore segment which was then covered by Route 28. Additionally, Sunday service was discontinued at this time.
Budget constraints in January 1993 led to the elimination of weekday midday trips due to low passenger demand and reduced Saturday service to terminate at Pinewood Village.
With the final extension of the light rail system in September 1993, midday service was restored and Route 17 absorbed the discontinued Route 230. The route was altered to include stops at BWI Airport as well as the surrounding business and hotel districts. Service along Hammonds Ferry Road was reassigned to new Route 12. During peak hours, some trips were extended to Lake Shore Plaza while midday trips continued only as far as the Cromwell light rail stop.
Integration with Route 12 and Service Reductions
In 1996, Route 17 underwent significant cutbacks: all trips between BWI Airport and Lake Shore Plaza were discontinued, resulting in some neighborhoods losing MTA transit options. Service to Pinewood Village was shifted to a limited branch of Route 14, while Mountain Road ceased to be served altogether. Nevertheless, segments of Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard remained reachable via nearby light rail stations. At this time, Route 17 was combined with Route 12 and extended to reach Parkway Center, streamlining the network.
Expansion to Arundel Mills
After the opening of Arundel Mills shopping center in Hanover, Maryland in 2001, Route 17 was extended to serve the mall. All trips formerly terminating at Parkway Center were redirected through Arundel Mills, and services running to BWI Airport were lengthened accordingly. Additionally, Sunday service was introduced to accommodate the mall’s weekend visitors.
Risk of Complete Discontinuation
In 2005, as part of the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative, MTA proposed nearly eliminating Route 17 except for a few trips connecting downtown Baltimore and BWI Airport during periods when the light rail was not operating. Passengers traveling between Arundel Mills and the airport were advised to use Howard County Transit’s Red Express Route; meanwhile, other riders in Anne Arundel County faced losing bus access entirely. The MTA justified this by citing substantial taxpayer subsidies due to low ridership on the route.
This plan met with strong opposition from riders, businesses, and community organizations, particularly highlighting concerns about non-English-speaking employees in the BWI hotel area who would lose transportation without sufficient advance notice.
In response, MTA revised its approach in 2006: Route 17 would maintain full-time service between Patapsco Light Rail Station and Arundel Mills but with reduced frequency—every 30 minutes during peak hours and every 90 minutes during off-peak times. Some route deviations serving overlapping locations (such as BWI Amtrak) were eliminated or modified. Only passengers traveling west of Arundel Mills toward Parkway Center experienced service loss.
The Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative was ultimately canceled in 2007, allowing Route 17 to continue operating fully.
In 2009, branches serving Airport 100 Business Park and SECU were discontinued.
By 2017, Route 17 was rebranded as LocalLink Route 75 as part of the BaltimoreLink overhaul.