Route 48 (MTA Maryland)
| Company type | Bus route |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Predecessor | Route 8 |
| Founded | 1963 |
| Headquarters | Baltimore , United States |
Area served | Baltimore and surrounding suburbs |
| Owner | Maryland Transit Administration |
CityLink Red (RD) is a MTA BaltimoreLink bus route managed by the Maryland Transit Administration, serving the city of Baltimore along with its surrounding suburbs. The route extends from the University of Maryland Transit Center to the Lutherville Light Rail Stop, traveling through the York Road and Greenmount Avenue corridors. As the busiest bus line within the MTA network, CityLink Red replaced the former Route 8 under BaltimoreLink and continues the legacy of the 8 Towson and 7 Govanstown streetcar lines.
History
Originally, Route 8 was converted to electric streetcar service in 1895, connecting Towson and Catonsville via York Road, Greenmount Avenue, and Frederick Road through downtown Baltimore. The "no. 7" streetcar operated as a short-turn service between Govanstown and Irvington until it merged into Route 8 in 1931. In 1963, Route 8 transitioned from streetcar to bus operation, marking the end of streetcar service in Baltimore.
Subsequently, several branches were added to serve areas such as Mt. Washington (8A, introduced in 1972), Cockeysville (8B, active from 1973 to 1989), Providence/Springlake (8D and 8E, also from 1973 to 1989), along with Eudowood, Towson State University campus, and Stella Maris nursing home, which opened in 1980. These branches have since been either discontinued or integrated into other services.
In an effort to improve reliability and better align service frequency with rider demand, Route 8 was divided into two separate lines in 1982: the new Route 8 operated between Towson center and the University of Maryland Transit Center, while Route 2 ran from Catonsville to City Hall. The latter route is currently served by Route 10.
Following the inauguration of the Central Light Rail in 1992, Route 8 was extended beyond Towson to reach the Lutherville Light Rail Stop on Ridgely Road on all days except Sundays. This extension overlapped with Route 9 service and faced criticism due to perceived inefficiencies from duplicated coverage. Despite proposed reductions, branches serving Towson State and Stella Maris remained operational.
To address these concerns, MTA reduced Route 9 service between Towson and Lutherville during off-peak weekday hours in 1993 and eliminated the Saturday extension of Route 8 to Lutherville, while enhancing weekend service on Route 9.
In 2000, Routes 8 and 9 were combined by MTA, with certain Route 8 trips extended from Lutherville to Hunt Valley Town Center—accounting for approximately two-thirds of all trips. This integration lowered operational costs and provided continuous single-seat travel along York Road at all times, making Route 8 one of the longest routes within MTA’s system.
Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative changes
As part of the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative in 2005, MTA separated Routes 8 and 9 once again. Route 8 resumed daily service to and from Lutherville, while Route 9 covered areas north of Ridgely Road. Branches such as Loveton, International Circle, and Stella Maris were discontinued. To alleviate overcrowding on Route 8, articulated buses with increased passenger capacity were introduced for all trips.
Although MTA ended direct service to Loveton, local employers contracted private shuttle services to maintain transportation options. In response to public feedback, Route 9 was rerouted to serve International Circle in February 2006. Additionally, in February 2009, Route 83S was launched by York, Pennsylvania’s Rabbit Transit system to connect with the light rail network.
Stella Maris Service
Although the Stella Maris segment of Route 8 was initially eliminated during the GBBI restructuring, it was later brought back as a newly designated Route 12 following strong public advocacy.
BaltimoreLink
On June 18, 2017, Route 8 was completely phased out and replaced by CityLink Red as part of the BaltimoreLink transit system revamp.
Route 48 Quickbus
Introduced on August 30, 2009, the Route 48 Quickbus succeeded the Route 8 Express Bus. This marked MTA's second Quickbus line following the renaming of Route 40 in January 2007. Operating Monday through Saturday at 15-minute intervals from 5:30 AM until 6:30 PM, Route 48 followed a path similar to Route 8 but excluded the Towson-Lutherville stretch and stopped only at major transfer hubs, notable landmarks, and high-traffic intersections, totaling 28 stops.
The designation "48" carries historical relevance, having been assigned to multiple streetcar and bus lines in Baltimore dating back to the mid-1900s.
As part of the BaltimoreLink initiative on June 18, 2017, CityLink Red replaced Route 48.
In Popular Culture
- In his book Back in the day, author Darrin Keith Bastfield reminisces about traveling on the Greenmount Avenue bus alongside the future rapper Tupac Shakur.
- The bus is commandeered by actress Jean Hill in the 1981 film Polyester, directed by John Waters.
External links
- Route 8 schedule and map, effective August 29, 2010