LocalLink 85 (BaltimoreLink)
| Company type | Bus line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Predecessor | M-3, M-8 |
| Founded | August 24, 2008 |
| Headquarters | Baltimore , United States |
Area served | Baltimore and surrounding suburbs |
| Products | Bus service |
| Parent | Maryland Transit Administration |
LocalLink 85 operates as a bus line connecting Baltimore with its surrounding suburbs, traveling between the Penn-North Metro Subway Station in Baltimore City and the Milford Mill Metro Subway Station located in Pikesville. This route was established on August 24, 2008, through the consolidation of two previous lines, M-3 and M-8, which had been in operation since 1984 and 1987 respectively. Both predecessor routes originated from earlier streetcar and bus services.
In June 2017, the Maryland Transit Administration undertook a system-wide rebranding effort known as BaltimoreLink, during which Route 54 was renamed LocalLink 85 to simplify route identification and improve transit marketing strategies.
History
Before adopting the number 85 in 2008, this designation was used for a bus route running along Liberty and Milford Mill Roads from 1948 until 1955. Various other route numbers have served portions of what is now LocalLink 85 at different times.
1916 to 1948
The no. 5 streetcar began operating on Park Heights Avenue in 1916, initially extending to Emory Grove in Reisterstown. Over time, this line was gradually shortened and replaced by bus services: it was cut back to Pikesville in 1932, further reduced to Manhattan Avenue near Northern Parkway in 1938, and ceased streetcar operation altogether by 1948.
Starting in 1922, Route E was the first bus line to serve Randallstown; this route was renamed Route 54 in 1948.
1948 to 1984
In 1948, the no. 5 streetcar transitioned to bus service, initially operating as the combined no. 5/7 line until it split into separate no. 5 and no. 7 lines in 1959. Up until 1984, Route 5 consistently ran along Park Heights Avenue from Slade Avenue into downtown Baltimore. This route also provided service during hours when the Metro was not running until full Sunday Metro service began on Route M-3 in 2001.
The original no. 54 route operated from 1948 through 1955 along Liberty and Milford Mill Roads before being incorporated into the now-discontinued Route 28. Route 28 offered full-time service until Metro connection routes replaced it during Metro operating hours starting in 1984. It ran daily until its functions were absorbed by Routes 5 and 27 in 1996. Sunday service persisted until connection buses for Metro service were introduced in 2001.
Route M-3
On June 18, 1984, Route M-3 commenced operations between Mondawmin Metro Subway Station and Park Heights at Slade Avenues during Metro hours. Prior to this change, Route 5 utilized the bus loop at Slade Avenue, Reisterstown Road, and Seven Mile Lane, which remained in use by both routes.
In 1985, Route M-3 extended its southern terminus to the Penn-North Metro Subway Station, maintaining this service until its discontinuation in 2008; meanwhile, Route 54 continues to serve that station. The M-3 also included a short loop southward at Cumberland and Carey Streets shared with Route 21.
By 1987, Route M-3 expanded westward to reach the newly opened Milford Mill Metro Subway Station. Aside from some trips diverting through the Greenhill Apartments, now mainly served by Route 97, the route saw little change over more than twenty years.
Sunday operations were introduced in September of 2001 with schedules aligned with Saturday service patterns.
Route M-8
Service for Route R-4 commenced on June 18, 1984, operating between Rogers Avenue Metro Subway Station and Randallstown. On August 31, 1987, the route was renumbered to M-8 and briefly shifted its starting point to Reisterstown Plaza Station. However, due to passenger dissatisfaction, the origin reverted back within a fortnight.
In 1997, the MTA proposed extending the M-8 approximately one mile westward beyond Randallstown to reach Deer Park and Winands Roads in Kings Point, aiming to serve previously unserved residential and commercial zones. Despite promotional materials announcing this extension, community resistance led to its cancellation less than three weeks before the planned launch.
Sunday operations were introduced in September 2001, aligning with the existing Saturday timetable.
As part of the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative on October 23, 2005, Route M-8 was redirected from Milford Mill Metro Station to Randallstown. Plans to extend service to Owings Mills Station were abandoned following opposition from residents along McDonogh Road. This rerouting also discontinued coverage along Liberty Road east of Milford Mill Road, compelling passengers to transfer at Liberty Road to Route M-1 and resulting in the loss of direct connections at Rogers Avenue Station.
Prior to this, service on Milford Mill Road was provided by Route P-6 between 1984 and 1987 from Reisterstown Plaza Station, which was succeeded by Route M-13 in 1987. The M-13 operated from Milford Mill Station on a loop via Liberty Road, Rolling Road, and Church Lane at 26-minute intervals, including a peak-period branch serving Bellemore Farms via Scotts Level Road.
In 1988, Route M-13 was consolidated into Route M-1; select trips extended hourly to Milford Mill Station while peak-hour services continued to Bellemore Farms. Although Bellemore Farms service was considered for discontinuation in 1998, it was ultimately eliminated in 2005 under GBBI.
Sunday service along Milford Mill Road had been maintained by Route 7 until 2001.
Plan to combine routes
The proposal to merge routes M-3 and M-8 emerged in early 2006 as part of "Phase II" of the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative (GBBI). While public opposition was minimal, legislative language inserted by the Maryland General Assembly mandated a minimum of two public hearings prior to any bus route changes, effectively halting progress on the merger.
The idea reappeared during subsequent hearings with backing from advocacy organizations aiming to restore direct transit between Randallstown and Park Heights and reconnect Randallstown with routes lost after the 2005 M-8 adjustments. Nonetheless, concerns were voiced that the extended combined route might negatively impact schedule reliability.
Following the cancellation of GBBI in 2007, the state adopted a strategy of gradual modifications, delaying the merger once again. During hearings in spring 2008, the plan resurfaced under a new designation—dropping the "M" prefix and introducing Route 54.
Upon Route 54’s introduction, layover remained at Cumberland and Carey Streets. Unlike southbound M-3 buses that displayed "PENN-NORTH," buses on Route 54 initially showed "Cumberland & Carey." This signage was updated on February 8, 2009, after routing changes through Reservoir Hill resulted in destination displays reading "North Avenue."