Mondawmin station
| Company type | Metro SubwayLink station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | November 1983 |
| Headquarters | Baltimore , United States |
Area served | Baltimore, Maryland |
Mondawmin station is part of the Metro SubwayLink network in Baltimore, Maryland, situated below the crossing of Reisterstown Road and Liberty Heights Avenue within the Mondawmin district, near Mondawmin Mall. It holds the distinction of being the northernmost subterranean stop on the route and functions as a vital interchange point for various bus routes.
Key locations served by this station include Mondawmin Mall, Coppin State University, Druid Hill Park, The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, and the Lower Park Heights neighborhood.
At ground level, a bus loop facilitates connections to Reisterstown Road and Liberty Heights Avenue, supporting numerous bus lines, many of which conclude their routes here. After the station opened in November 1983, several bus routes were shortened to terminate at Mondawmin in June 1984, resulting in the establishment of Routes M-1, M-2, and M-3 to cover areas beyond Mondawmin.
Station features
In July 2021, the MTA initiated a pilot project installing digital bus arrival displays at Mondawmin’s bus loop, as well as at Rogers Avenue and Patapsco light rail stations. Although these digital signs were initially planned during a 2010 renovation that resurfaced the bus loop, real-time bus tracking was introduced subsequently. The current system for live bus updates, created in collaboration with the Transit app, launched in 2018.
Also in 2021, MTA awarded a contract to replace two elevators that provide vertical access between street level, mezzanine, and platform at Mondawmin. This comprehensive modernization addresses aging infrastructure and is scheduled for completion between January 2022 and August 2023.
Artwork
Installed on the upper-level end wall of the station is a back-lit photographic collage entitled "Archetype", created by Baltimore artist R. Thomas Gregory. Commissioned by MTA for $85,000 in 1983, this piece adds aesthetic value to the station environment.
Excavation and construction
Mondawmin station was constructed using the cut-and-cover technique within residual soils and bedrock. Unlike other stations on the Baltimore Metro that rely solely on soldier piles for support, Mondawmin’s excavation incorporated soldier piles in the upper layers of decomposed soil along with rock bolts, wire mesh, and shotcrete within the lower, more solid strata. This combined support approach shortened construction duration and reduced expenses while providing a more spacious work area. The excavation dimensions were approximately 183 meters in length, 16 meters wide, and reached depths ranging from 27 to 29 meters.
A thorough geological survey involving 24 boreholes guided the design process. The subsurface profile consisted of residual materials overlaying durable amphibolite and intrusive gneiss bedrock. Shear zones at contact points were critical considerations for structural support planning.
Two tunnel sections were built underground starting from an entry point near Druid Park Drive and Liberty Heights Avenue, extending beneath Liberty Heights Avenue's 2600 block. Tunnel construction was overseen by Cleveland-based contractor Clevecon-au-Vianini at a cost of $40.7 million. These tunnels are unique within Baltimore’s Metro system as they were excavated through competent rock rather than weathered material.
Mondawmin Shuttle
The Mondawmin Shuttle, designated as MTA Route 97 and also referred to as the Mondawmin Shuttle Bug, was the final shuttle service launched during the 2000s. This route connects Baltimore City Community College, Coppin State College, and adjacent streets, some of which are also served by standard routes, all within convenient walking proximity to other MTA bus lines. Service frequency is maintained at every 20 minutes.
In 2005, the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative proposed reducing the shuttle’s frequency to once per hour, encouraging passengers to utilize overlapping bus routes instead. However, after receiving feedback from the community, the MTA decided to keep the original schedule intact.
A year later in 2006, there was a proposal to adjust the route to include Reservoir Hill, aiming to substitute part of the coverage provided by Route 5. Ultimately, Route 5 continued operating through Reservoir Hill without modification.
April 27, 2015 protests and shutdown
On April 27, 2015, demonstrations related to the death of Freddie Gray escalated into riots around Mondawmin station. Authorities equipped with riot gear responded after social media alerts warned of potential disturbances coinciding with school dismissal times. By mid-afternoon, police had blocked bus access at Mondawmin station, leaving numerous students from nearby Frederick Douglass High School stranded. By 3:21 P.M., law enforcement had shut down the critical intersection at Reisterstown Road and Liberty Heights Avenue, rerouting all bus traffic away from this area.
The MTA announced that subway service would be limited on April 28, closing Mondawmin along with Upton and Penn-North stations temporarily while buses were redirected. These restrictions remained in place through April 29 before normal operations resumed on April 30.
There remains ambiguity regarding who authorized the transit shutdown. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake expressed uncertainty about who issued the order; MTA representatives attributed it to school officials, who in turn deferred responsibility to the police. An MTA spokesperson stated that police requested the suspension of service, yet city police referred inquiries back to MTA. Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Gregory Thornton indicated he was taken by surprise during discussions with city leaders.
Transit-oriented development
In November 2018, Metro Heights—a $15.9 million mixed-income affordable housing project—was inaugurated near the Mondawmin Metro station at Liberty Heights Avenue and Reisterstown Road. This four-story building contains 70 residential units and replaced previously vacant row houses. Its location capitalizes on proximity to Baltimore City's extensive regional transit network. Funding for the development was sourced through a combination of state, municipal, and private sector investments.