History of Bus

    Buses made their debut in Baltimore in 1909. Double-decker buses first appeared in 1921, first operating along Charles Street, and then on University Parkway in 1922, the same year trackless trolleys were introduced. In 1935, Baltimore Transit Company (BTC) replaced United Railways and Electric Company as one company, taking over operation of buses, streetcars and trackless trolleys. In 1938 articulated buses were introduced on the “Q” Line to Halethorpe. In 1970, privately owned BTC was taken over by the MTA, which put all local city buses under state operation, and in 1971 Walter J. Addison became MTA’s first official Administrator. Today, the MTA operates nearly 800 buses with over 50 different lines, and contracts out nearly 20 other statewide commuter routes that connect customers with Baltimore and Washington.