LocalLink 80 (BaltimoreLink)
| Company type | Public transit bus route |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Predecessor | Route 91 |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Headquarters | Baltimore , United States |
Area served | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Products | Bus service |
| Owner | Maryland Transit Administration |
LocalLink 80 is a bus route managed by the Maryland Transit Administration operating within Baltimore, Maryland. This route forms part of the high-frequency transit network along the Garrison Boulevard corridor in northwest Baltimore, starting from Downtown Baltimore. Both LocalLink 80 and its predecessor, Route 91, have consistently been among the top-performing routes in terms of ridership within Baltimore’s local bus services. It was notably the first city line to utilize articulated buses to meet growing passenger volumes on busy corridors.
History
Service on Route 91 commenced in 1987 following its separation from the longer Route 19. The route has largely preserved its original alignment, providing continuous service through the Rogers Avenue Metro Subway Station. Although there were several proposals aimed at merging this route with others, these suggestions faced significant resistance.
In 2017, as part of the comprehensive BaltimoreLink bus network redesign, Route 91 was renamed LocalLink 80. Prior to this change, Route 91 distinguished itself with one of the highest farebox recovery ratios among MTA-operated bus lines.
LocalLink 80 carries forward the heritage of the former 16 Madison Avenue and 31 Garrison Boulevard streetcar lines.
Origin
The No. 31 Streetcar began operations in 1917. In 1952, it was combined with the No. 19 Streetcar, which transitioned to bus service by 1956. The No. 19 bus line served the Harford Road corridor extending to Garrison Boulevard for over three decades and was eventually extended to Sinai Hospital after absorbing the brief-lived Bus Route 90 (1959–1960), which operated between the Belvedere loop and Sinai Hospital.
When the Central Light Rail launched in 1992, MTA proposed discontinuing Route 91 and reallocating service primarily to Route 13. However, public opposition prevented this change.
During the 2005 Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative, MTA again suggested terminating Route 91 and rerouting Route 15 to cover Sinai Hospital instead. This plan was abandoned due to strong community pushback, particularly concerning service loss along Eutaw Place in Bolton Hill.
In the second phase of GBBI in 2006, it was proposed that Route 91 would continue at a reduced frequency while a new Route M-5 would operate between Mt. Washington Light Rail Stop and Penn-North Metro Subway Station, overlapping between Pimlico and Penn-North stations. This proposal was never enacted, and GBBI was ultimately discontinued in 2007.
BaltimoreLink
In 2015, Governor Larry Hogan unveiled plans for a sweeping transformation of Baltimore’s bus network featuring twelve color-coded high-frequency routes but with reduced overall coverage compared to existing lines and historic streetcar paths. Initially, these plans excluded service along Garrison Boulevard between Walbrook and Rogers Avenue Metro station, leading to criticism from State Senator Lisa A. Gladden and local residents concerned about longer walking distances.
Significantly, two of the system's busiest corridors—Garrison Boulevard and Greenmount Avenue (CityLink Red)—were omitted from early proposals. Following widespread public disapproval, MTA revised approximately 86% of its initial route plans in 2016, restoring much of the traditional network design aligned with former streetcar corridors. The updated proposal reinstated a downtown connection to Baltimore City Hall for the Garrison Boulevard corridor.
Proposed Infrastructure Improvements
LocalLink 80 is included in the Maryland Transit Administration's plans for major infrastructure enhancements aimed at improving service efficiency and accommodating heavy passenger volumes. These upgrades build upon the 2021 "North Avenue Rising" initiative, which involved repaving North Avenue and introducing dedicated bus lanes for the CityLink Gold service.