History
Route 59 has only been operating since February 17, 2008. Prior to this date, the no. 59 designation was never used for a bus operating on Reisterstown Road. The only other bus route in Baltimore transit history that had the no. 59 designation was the Colgate Shuttle, a service that operated during rush hour from 1948 to 1952. But the Reisterstown Road corridor between Pikesville and Owings Mills has a history of being served by many other bus routes and streetcar lines.1916 to 1932
Service on Reisterstown Road was provided by the No. 5 Streetcar Line, which ran from Emory Grove to Patterson Park, providing all transit service than offered along any parts of Reisterstown Road. The no. 5 streetcar was had the most northern point of all Baltimore streetcars. At this time, the1932 to 1948
In 1932, the no. 5 streetcar was shortened to1948 to 1959
In 1948, the no. 5 streetcar was completely converted to a bus operated. The new line was identified as the no. 5/7 line.1959 to 1984
The no. 7 bus line provided service on all parts of Reisterstown Road from Glyndon to Pennsylvania and North Avenues, then continued along Pennsylvania Avenue to1984 to 1987
Following the opening of the Baltimore Metro, a new series of feeder buses were developed to bring riders into Metro stations. During this time, MTA Maryland former bus routes#Route P-4, Route P-4 operated along virtually the same route as Route 59, with the exception of the deviation into the Owings Mills Metro Station, which at the time, did not exist. Additionally, MTA Maryland former bus routes#Route P-1, Route P-1 overlapped along Reisterstown Road, then operated to Reisterstown.1987 to 1997
During the years 1987 to 1997, Route M-9 operated over the present route of Route 59. The line started by running from Reisterstown Plaza to the Owings Mills Metro Subway Station at most times, with trips before 9 AM continuing to the Owings Mills Town Center. After 9 AM, service to between the Metro Station and Town Center was provided by a shuttle identified as History of MTA Maryland#Route M-17, Route M-17, no relationship to the current Route M-17 (MTA Maryland), Route M-17 that serves other parts of the1997 to 2008
In 1997, Route M-9 was combined with Route M-16. A single line was formed that operated between the Reisterstown Plaza Metro Subway Station and Reisterstown, with all trips operating via the Owings Mills Town Center. A new Route M-17 (MTA Maryland), Route M-17 was formed to provide service on all special branches. In 1999, the destination signs of the buses bound for Reisterstown were marked ''"Glyndon"'' in order to avoid confusion with those in the opposite direction marked ''"Reisterstown Plaza Station"''. In September 2001, all Metro connection buses, except those that operated weekdays only, were expanded to operate 7 days a week for the first time. The schedules of all at the time, including Route M-9, matched those of Saturday service.2008 to 2017
On February 17, 2008, the M-9 line was split into two new routes: nos. 59 and Route 56 (MTA Maryland), 56. These routes resemble the former original Routes M-9 and M-16, respectively. This was done in order to improve schedule adherence on both routes. On August 30, 2009 Route M-17 was discontinued and service along Red Run Boulevard was replaced by extending peak hour service on Route 59 to Red Land Court. These trips do not enter the Owings Mills Mall parking lot (Mill Run Circle), but pass Owings Mills Mall on Red Run Boulevard.2017 to present
BaltimoreLink renamed Route 59 to Route 89, and expanded the route to have a southern terminus at Rogers Avenue station.References
{{MTA Maryland bus Maryland Transit Administration bus routes 2008 establishments in Maryland