The Brief History of the #32 Perring Park & Ride Line

The #32 bus line was inaugurated on September 9, 1979.  Apparently, MTA looked to capitalize on the success of the #3 EXPRESS bus by adding a Park & Ride service from the Northwood vicinity.  The route operated from the Q-lot of Morgan State University (now the Mitchell Engineering Building) to the Inner Harbor.  Pictures indicate the use of Kirk Avenue 1900's (fishbowls) for use on the service.  It is conceivable that some 2800 series buses saw at least limited use on the line, as well as RTS-IIs.

For safety and convenience, the coaches were boarded in the Northbound curb lane of Perring Parkway, eliminating the need to cross the busy street.  After departing, they proceeded North on Perring and West on Belvedere.  Then they continued their trip to Downtown using Loch Raven, 33rd Street, St. Paul, Light, Lee, Charles, and Montgomery to return to Northbound Light Street.  The return trip was made using Light, Calvert, 33rd, Hillen, and Perring to return to the lot.  It is not known if the buses made any intermediate stops on the line, although it is assumed that they stopped at the Stadium Park & Ride (since they didn't use the more direct Loch Raven to 25th Street routing used by the #3 SHOPPERS SPECIAL).

In September of 1980, the Harbor loop was revised to loop via Lombard, Hopkins, Sharp, and Conway.   This was reverted to the original setup in January of 1981.  It would be the last change to take place for the line however, as it would be discontinued with the January 24, 1982 general schedule change.  It is assumed that the line was not as convenient (or even as quick) as the #3 EXPRESS that it was intended to improve.  Patrons using the #3 could return early or late using the Local (or Shoppers Special) service on the line, while patrons parking at Perring Parkway would have a four block walk from the #3 in order to reach their cars, should they have to return during a period when the line was not in operation.

The #32 designation was never used again by the MTA, perhaps to reserve the designation should the #23 line ever be split in the center (as was done with the 19 and resulting 91).