Baltimore Metro SubwayLink — Map, Lines, Route, Hours, Tickets

The Baltimore Metro, colloquially known as the Subway, opened in 1983 and is the city’s main public transport system. It is linked to the Baltimore Light Rail, an interconnected light rail system. Hours of operation for these services begin at 5:00 am on weekdays and 6:00 am on weekends and run until midnight. Regular tickets cost $1.70. Both the Metro and Light Rail systems are maintained by the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) and carry approximately 67,000 passengers daily.

The Metro Subway, also known as the Metro, carries an average of 57,600 passengers per day. The system uses gates for subway fare collection and an honour system for the Light Rail Transit (LRT). It is worth noting, however, that the Metro Subway does not operate 24 hours a day. There is the convenience of air conditioning, but passengers are not allowed to walk between platforms. The trains are not driverless and the platforms do not have screen doors.

The average speed of the trains is 110 km/h and the Metro is operated by the Maryland Transit Administration. It operates from 5am to midnight Monday to Friday and from 6am to midnight on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. The fare is $1.70.

Baltimore Metro Map

Map of Baltimore Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Baltimore Metro map in PDF format.

The Baltimore Metro: Subway System

The Baltimore Metro, known locally as the Subway, has been in operation since 1983. Although this may seem relatively recent in comparison to other comparable transport networks, its planning and construction were marred by a number of problems. Initially, 114 kilometres of track were planned, but only 12.2 kilometres were completed when the system opened. However, an extension of 24 kilometres was added in 1995, bringing the total to over 100 kilometres.

The metro system is complemented by the light rail system, which adds a further 48.3 kilometres of track. Together, the metro and light rail systems carry around 67,000 passengers a day, making them the most important public transport systems in the city.

Historical Overview

Baltimore, in the northeastern United States, is the most populous city in Maryland, with a metropolitan area of more than 2.6 million people. Founded in 1729, the city was named after Lord Baltimore, the first English settler to be granted land rights in Maryland.

While Baltimore thrived on a strong manufacturing industry in the early 20th century, its main economic activity gradually shifted to the service sector. This shift allowed the city to modernise, resulting in the construction of roads, highways, public infrastructure and a high-quality public transit system. This system, operated by the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), includes city and intercity bus routes, streetcars, railways and, most notably, the Metro.

Lines and Stations

The Baltimore Metro consists of two main services. The first, known as the Subway, crosses the city from east to west and back again. Starting in the Owings Mills neighbourhood, the Subway runs through the heart of the city to Johns Hopkins Hospital. The subway spans 24.8 kilometres of track and includes 14 stations, eight of which are underground, with the remainder at street level or elevated in some areas.

The subway is complemented by the Baltimore Light Rail, which runs from the Hunt Valley neighbourhood in the north to Linthicum Heights in the south. The light rail has been in operation since April 1992, although planning began in 1966 with a vision of six light rail lines. However, the first line was not completed until 1983 and currently only three lines (Blue, Yellow and Red) are in operation. These lines run concurrently for most of their route. The divergence with the Yellow Line occurs at the southern tip, where it heads to Glen Burnie, while the Red Line only serves one additional station compared to the Blue Line, which is the central downtown station on North Charles Street. Notably, the Blue Line has two additional stations to serve the city’s airport.

Subway Stations: Owings Mills, Old Court, Milford Mill, Reisterstown Plaza, Rogers Avenue, West Coldspring, Mondawmin, Penn-North, Upton/Avenue Market, State Center/Cultural Center, Lexington Market, Charles Center, Shot Tower/Market Place, Johns Hopkins Hospital
Light Rail Stations: Hunt Valley, Pepper Road, McCormick Road, Gilroy Road, Warren Road, Timonium (Connection to Yellow Line), Timonium Business Park, Lutherville, Falls Road, Mount Washington, Cold Spring Lane, Woodberry, North Avenue, University of Baltimore/Mount Royal (Connection with Red Line), Convention Center, Camden Yards, Hamburg Street, Westport, Cherry Hill, Patapsco, Baltimore Highlands, Nursery Road, North Linthicum, Linthicum
Additional Yellow Line Stations: Ferndal, Cromwell Station/Glen Burnie
Additional Red Line Stations: Baltimore Pennsylvania Station
Additional Blue Line Stations: BWI Business District, BWI Airport

Operating Hours and Connections

The Baltimore Metro operates from 5am to midnight Monday to Friday and from 6am to midnight on weekends. Trains run every 8-10 minutes Monday through Friday, with an average 11-minute interval between trains on weekends. Trains travel at an average speed of 110 km/h, making it an efficient urban transport system.

The Light Rail, on the other hand, runs from 3.30am to 1.30am from Monday to Friday, providing 22 hours of continuous service. On Saturdays it operates from 4:15am to 1:15am. On Sundays the Light Rail operates from 10:00 to 22:00.

Connections to local bus services are available at all subway and light rail stations. However, there is no direct connection between the Metro and the Light Rail at any station. Passengers wishing to transfer from the subway to the light rail must alight at Lexington Market Station, which has a nearby light rail station of the same name approximately 200 metres away.

Fares, Cards, and Tickets

Baltimore Metro tickets are priced at $1.70 each and can be purchased from vending machines at stations that accept both cash and credit cards. These tickets are valid for the subway, light rail and buses, although they are not a single pass for all three services.

There are no turnstiles to control access to the Light Rail. MTA security guards randomly check for tickets in the corridors and fine passengers found without tickets. In addition to the single trip pass, passengers can opt for a card called the CharmCard, which offers several payment plans that can result in significant savings. These plans are as follows

Day Pass: For $4, this pass provides unlimited access to all MTA services for 24 hours, making it a cost-effective option for those who need to use these services for more than two trips.
Weekly Pass: For $22, this pass allows use of one of three specific MTA services for 7 days, without integration with other services.
Monthly pass: For $68, this allows unlimited access to the subway or light rail for 30 days, without integration with other services.
Therefore, a monthly subway pass can’t be used on the light rail and vice versa. This pass is ideal for residents and long term visitors.
Seniors and people with disabilities: Single tickets cost $0.70 for people over 65 and people with disabilities. A Day Pass for this group is $2.00, half the regular price. There is no weekly pass available for this category, but a monthly pass can be purchased for $20 per month.
Students: The MTA offers the S-Pass to middle and high school students between the ages of 12 and 17. This pass provides free rides on all Baltimore public transportation services Monday through Friday from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Schools issue these passes to students, who must carry their student ID card at all times.

For college students, the MTA has agreements with several universities and technical institutes to provide their students with monthly passes for $50. These passes include unlimited travel on the subway, light rail and buses. Unlike the S-Pass, there is no time limit. University students must also carry their institution’s ID, as any MTA authority is entitled to demand it.

The Subway: Baltimore, Maryland

Security

The MTA has its own police department responsible for ensuring the safety of passengers on all public transport.

It has a team of 150 officers divided into different divisions, including a uniformed patrol unit, a detective unit and a tactical unit. The departments were awarded the APTA Gold Safety Award in 2015 and 2016 for their excellent work, which is the result of good organisation in crime prevention. They have the same powers as the State Police, so they can investigate, make arrests and carry weapons. In fact, they have well-stocked arsenals in their depots.

Subway Rules

Inside the facilities

Eating is permitted on Baltimore Metro facilities, but if the food produces an odour that disturbs other passengers, a security officer has the authority to remove the offending passenger from the train. If the passenger resists, he or she may even be arrested and cautioned.
Smoking is not permitted in the carriages or on the premises. Failure to comply with this rule may result in a fine.
Disturbing the peace and quiet of other passengers on trains by shouting or talking excessively will result in a reprimand from the security guard.
Listening to music on devices such as radios, MP3 players or iPods without headphones is prohibited.
Panhandling (begging for money) on trains or in MTA facilities is prohibited. This action may result in removal from the train or station.
Passengers are advised not to obstruct the closing of car doors. Doing so intentionally may result in a reprimand from the security guard.
Passengers are advised to let other passengers off the train before boarding. This helps to maintain order in the transport system.

Bicycle transport

Passengers are allowed to take their bicycles with them on the Metro and Light Rail as long as they are kept next to the passenger and are not used on the premises.
Passengers are only allowed to take two bicycles at a time in the same carriage. The user must ensure that his bicycle does not obstruct the free passage of other passengers in the aisles.
Passengers cannot force their bicycles onto trains that are too full. If this is the case, they must wait for another train.
Transport of bicycles on trains may be prohibited due to unusual circumstances.
Elderly and disabled passengers will be given priority over bicycles when boarding trains.
Disabled passengers who require the use of a bicycle to assist with their condition may have it with them on the premises at all times.
Cyclists under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian on the Underground.
Users who fail to comply with the above rules may be penalised by the MTA Security Team. Punishment may range from a fine to arrest.

Pet Transportation

Pets can be transported without inconvenience during off-peak hours. However, during peak periods, the carriage of pets may be restricted.
Dogs must be leashed and muzzled, must not occupy seats in the carriage and must not disturb other passengers.
During peak periods, small animals should be transported in appropriate containers so as not to cause discomfort to other passengers.

Reaching the Airport by Metro

Getting to the airport via MTA services is fairly straightforward. The light rail has a station just outside Baltimore-Washington International Airport, the BWI Airport station, which is accessible by the Blue Line. If you are in the Glen Burnie area, you can take the Yellow Line to Linthicum Station and then transfer to the southbound Blue Line of the light rail, which makes two stops before reaching the airport. Alternatively, if you are near Pennsylvania Station on the Red Line, you can transfer to the southbound Blue Line at the University of Baltimore / Mount Royal stop.

To exit Baltimore-Washington International Airport, exit Terminal B where the BWI Airport Station is located. If your destination is a neighbourhood served only by the Yellow or Red Line, you will need to transfer at Glen Burnie or University of Baltimore / Mount Royal.

As mentioned above, the light rail does not connect directly to the subway. If your destination from the airport is on the east or west side of the city, first take the Blue Line of the light rail to Lexington Market Station. Upon arrival, you’ll need to walk 180 metres to the subway station of the same name. Note that only the Day Pass allows you to travel on all of the MTA’s transit services; any other pass requires separate tickets for each service.

Future Extensions

An extension of the subway from the Johns Hopkins Hospital Terminal to Morgan State University, known as the Green Line, is currently being planned. The project is expected to be very expensive due to the need to build a tunnel through a densely populated area of the city. The plan may be adapted to connect with the light rail instead of the subway or another rapid transit system.

There are also plans to expand the light rail, including the creation of a new line running east to west across Baltimore. New stations planned include Texas Station, near Timonium Station, and Stockholm Street Station, which will connect to the Baltimore Greyhound Bus Terminal. Also proposed is a separate 22.7km system of 19 new stations not directly connected to the main line, to be called the Red Line. However, this is still under discussion.

Tourist Attractions

For visitors with children, a trip to Port Discovery Children’s Museum is a must. Located near the Shot Tower-Market Place tube station, the museum offers interactive activities that introduce children to science, art and history. Depending on the date, you may also want to visit the Royal Farms Arena, an indoor stadium that hosts a variety of entertainment events and is easily accessible from the University of Baltimore / Mount Royal Light Rail Station.

If you are in town during baseball season, catch a game at the imposing Oriole Park at Camden Yards, conveniently located at the Camden Yards Light Rail Station. Even for non-baseball fans, the experience is exciting for the thousands of tourists who visit each year. Outside of the baseball season, the stadium offers guided tours that allow visitors access to areas normally off-limits to the public.

Finally, don’t miss the unique Geppi’s Entertainment Museum. With over 60,000 pop culture items ranging from posters, records, comic books, vintage movie ads and more, it’s the largest museum of its kind in the US. It’s a fantastic spot for fans of geek culture and is located near the Convention Center Light Rail Station.