subway? mass transit to JHH (Baltimore: apartment complexes, rentals, transfer)

[lkmangan]

I'm a travel nurse who will be living in Baltimore very soon! My company will provide housing for me and one of the living options is in downtown. Is it possible for me to take public transportation to John Hopkins from downtown, Hampden, or Federal Hill (as those were neighborhoods also suggested to me)? Another friend who used to live there said pulic transportation is a joke and that I'll need a car. I currently do not own a vehichle and I'd like to keep it that way, if possible. Any input?

[emsgoof]

Well, technically the subway does end in the basement of the main hospital (JHH). That being said, your friend is absolutely correct! Mass transit in Maryland is a joke. The line only runs from NW Baltimore city / county to JHH, bypassing the most popular areas of the city, and most of the commercial district. The service is unreliable at best (unannounced schedule changes, train operators that don't know how to run them correctly, poorly placed traffic blocks). The bus service does run around the city, but I'm pretty sure you'd be looking to transfer bus lines at least once each way. The MTA web site doesn't work worth a darn, and there is no "all in one" route map to figure out how to get around, so I can't help you with that (the MTA site isn't loading correctly right now).
I'd recommend saving yourself a huge headache and just getting a beater and driving in. I had some friends that used to live in Federal Hill, and they drove every day because of the mass transit headaches.

[barante]

The previous poster is absolutely right. In principle. Even so, it is possible to live in Baltimore without a car in certain circumstances. One is if your company puts you up in one of the apartment complexes near Lexington Market
High Point, Charles Towers and the Oakwood are some of the names. In that case you could take the subway to JHU (two stops), walk to the MARC train to Washington and so on.
Such an existence might be regarded as too limiting by any red blooded American, who hasgrown too dependant on cars. But lots of people do exist in Baltimore without a car. For example, Sun columnist Jacques Kelly has never owned a car. He takes cabs, whenever needed.
Should you decideto move to one of the Lexington Market area apartments, you could do food shopping at the market or shop at a brand new supermarket at Charles and Saratoga, or take the light rail to Hunt Valley Mall, which has shops galore, a nice selection of eateries and Wegman's gourmet grocery store. The light rail takes you right to the mall.
If the downtown option appeals to you, here is a link to an organization that can give you a list of all available apartments.
Live in Baltimore - Downtown
Living without a car in Baltimore would give you a totally different view of the city. I did it when I first came here. Would I do it again? Probably not, because I have become too selfish and too reliant on a car.
But if you don't want to get a car, it's possible to exist here.

[barante]

lkmangan -- We had breakfast in Butcher's Hill, near Patterson Park, this morning and I mentioned your question to a Johns Hopkins scientist. He pointed out that Hopkins now has short-term rentals of cars available for people who need the wheels for just a few hours.
Both he and his wife said living in Baltimore without a car is eminently doable (they have just one car). It will require a totally different mindset, a good understanding of transport options and a thorough knowledge of timetables. But it can be done.

[emsgoof]

Is that at the hospital or the university? They're in different parts of town.

[barante]

Rentals are available at the East Baltimore medical system complex.

[carolott]

I live here without a car. It's a pain sometimes, but with grocery delivery and living very close to downtown, it's definitely doable.

One of my neighbors works at JHH and she takes the subway, walking to...I think Lexington Market. I believe she goes to the East Baltimore complex.

[lkmangan]

GREAT! thanks for the info!!!

[guest2]

We work at the the JH Bloomberg School of Public Health and live in Federal Hill-South Baltimore.

I ride my bike to Shot Tower subway station. My wife takes the #1 or #64 bus to Charles Center station. We have one car between us and use it primarily on weekends.

If you live in Mt. Vernon, or near Penn Station, or Charles Village, an easy option is the Johns Hopkins Shuttle, available to employees and students: http://www.parking.jhu.edu/shuttles_jhmi-homewood.html.

[guest2]

If you live in Charles Village, Flexcar is an option.