Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland explained

Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland (RTA)
Founded:July 1, 2014
Commenced:July 1, 2014
Locale:8510 Corridor Road, Suite 110, Savage, Maryland 20763
Service Area:Anne Arundel, Howard County, City of Laurel, Northern Prince George's County, and Baltimore County
Service Type:Fixed-route, Paratransit
Routes:16
Annual Ridership:595,497 (2022)
Fuel Type:Diesel, gas, electric
Operator:First Transit
Leader Type:General Manager
Leader:Jason Quan[1]
Website:http://www.transitRTA.com

Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland, locally referred to as the RTA, is a transit organization providing fixed-route and paratransit services across Central Maryland. The RTA is made up of multiple jurisdictions including Anne Arundel County, Howard County, the City of Laurel, Northern Prince George's County, and Baltimore County.

In 2014, Howard County initiated the Regional Transit Agency of Central Maryland, recruiting Anne Arundel County to join areas served by Central Maryland Regional Transit claiming the centralized authority initiated, managed and funded through Howard County would save money in contract expenses. CMRT bid on providing services to these regions after July 1, but lost to First Transit.[2]

In 2014, Howard County broke ground on a $7.2 million bus depot at Savage, Maryland designed to house 120 buses.[3]

In 2023, RTA added route 505, the first route to serve Baltimore County and connect onto an MDOT MTA CityLink bus, and restructured route 405 to better serve Ellicott City.[4]

System

, RTA operates 16 bus routes in Howard County, Anne Arundel County, Prince George's County, the city of Laurel, and Baltimore County.

300-series routes (Prince George's County)
RouteRoute NameTermini Areas Served TransfersHeadway
301South LaurelTown Centre Laurel
South Laurel Drive
LaurelRTA 302, 409, 502, 503
Metrobus 87, 89, 89M
60 min
302Greenbelt Metro StationTown Centre Laurel
Greenbelt Metro Station
Laurel
Beltsville
Greenbelt
Metro Green Line
MARC Camden Line
RTA 301, 409, 502, 503
Metrobus 87, 89, 89M
60 min
400-series routes (Howard County)!Route!Route Name!Termini!Areas Served!Transfers!Headway!Notes
401Harper's Choice / Clary's ForestMall in Columbia
Clary's Forest
Harper's Choice Village Center
Wilde Lake Village Center
Howard County General Hospital
Howard Community College
MTA Maryland 150, 203, 305, 310, 315, 320, 325
RTA 402, 403, 404, 406, 407, 408, 501, 503, 505
30 min (weekdays peak) 60 min (off peak)This route has the shortest headway out of the entire RTA system.
402Columbia Crossing / Dobbin CenterMall in Columbia
Dobbin Center
Long ReachMTA Maryland 150, 203, 305, 310, 315, 320, 325
RTA 401, 403, 404, 406, 407, 408, 501, 503, 505
60 min
403Executive Park DriveMall in Columbia
Columbia 100 Parkway
Dorsey's SearchMTA Maryland 150, 203, 305, 310, 315, 320, 325
RTA 401, 402, 404, 406, 407, 408, 501, 503, 505
60 min
404Hickory RidgeMall in Columbia
Hickory Ridge Village Center
King's Contrivance
Hickory Ridge
Howard County General Hospital
Howard Community College
MTA Maryland 150, 203, 305, 310, 315, 320, 325
RTA 401, 402, 403, 406, 407, 408, 501, 503, 505
60 min
405Ellicott CityEllicott City WalmartPine Orchard LaneLong Gate
Ellicott City
RTA 50560 minRestructured in 2023. Used to departfrom Mall in Columbia, now departsfrom Ellicott City Walmart.
406Columbia GatewayMall in Columbia
Columbia Gateway
Long Reach
Owen Brown
MTA Maryland 150, 203, 305, 310, 315, 320, 325
RTA 401, 402, 403, 404, 407, 408, 501, 503, 505
60 minAs of October 2022. this route has the lowest ridership out of the entire system.

As of 7 July 2024, this route no longer operates.

407Owen Brown / Kings ContrivanceMall in Columbia
King's Contrivance Village Center
Owen Brown
Oakland Mills
King's Contrivance
MTA Maryland 150, 203, 305, 310, 315, 320, 325
RTA 401, 402, 403, 404, 406, 408, 501, 503, 505
60 min
408Lark Brown / WaterlooMall in Columbia
Waterloo Park
Long Reach
Owen Brown
East Columbia/Columbia Gateway Office Park
Waterloo
MTA Maryland 203, 310, 320
RTA 401, 402, 403, 404, 406, 407, 501, 503, 505
60 min
409Elkridge CornersTown Centre Laurel
Elkridge
Elkridge
Jessup
Savage
Laurel
MARC Camden Line
MTA Maryland 320
Metrobus 87, 89, 89M, Z7
RTA 301, 302, 409, 501, 502, 503
60 minExtension to Lansdowne Station and Halethorpe MARC is proposedWould provide connections: MTA Maryland 32, CityLink YELLOW MARC Penn Line
414 (Not Operating)Kings ContrivanceMall in Columbia
King's Contrivance Village Center
King's Contrivance Village CenterMTA Maryland 150, 203, 305, 310, 315, 320, 325
RTA 401, 402, 403, 404, 406, 407, 408, 501, 503, 505
60 minStopped service in 2020.
500-series regional routes!Route!Route Name!Termini!Areas Served!Transfers!Headway!Notes
501Columbia / Arundel MillsMall in Columbia
Arundel Mills
Jessup
South Elkridge
MTA Maryland 75, 150, 201, 203, 305, 310, 315, 320, 325
RTA 401, 402, 403, 404, 406, 407, 408, 409, 502, 503, 505MARC Camden Line
60 minAs of October 2022, this route has the highest ridershipout of the entire system.Extension to BWI Airport is proposed in the 2023 TDP.Would provide connections: MTA Maryland Light RailLink MARC Penn Line
502Laurel / Arundel MillsTown Centre Laurel
Arundel Mills
Laurel
Maryland City
Metrobus 87, 89, 89M, Z7
MTA Maryland 17, 75, 201
RTA 301, 302, 409, 501
45 min (weekday peak)60 min (weekday off-peak)

90 min (weekend)

This is the only route to have a 90-minute headway.
503Laurel / ColumbiaMall in Columbia
Town Centre Laurel
Laurel
Savage
Owen Brown
Metrobus 87, 89, 89M, Z7
MTA Maryland 17, 201, 203, 310, 320
RTA 301, 302, 401, 402, 403, 404, 406, 407, 408, 409, 501, 502, 505
60 min
505Columbia / CatonsvilleMall in ColumbiaWalmart CatonsvilleColumbiaEllicott City CatonsvilleMTA Maryland 77, 150, CityLink PURPLE, 203, 305, 310, 315, 320, 325RTA 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 501, 50360 minAdded in 2023. First route to connect to an MTA Maryland CityLink bus. Also the first route to serve Baltimore County. The proposed 409 extension will be the second, also connecting to a CityLink bus.

Hubs

RTA has a number of transit hubs where numerous bus lines meet. They include:

Fares

Bus fare can be purchased on the bus, at certain library branches, senior centers, online for shipping, and through the Transit app.[5]

Type Fare (USD)
One-Way Fare
  • available on the bus or through the Transit app
$2.00
Daily Pass
*only sold through the Transit app
$5.00
10-Ride Ticket Book
  • available online for shipping or in-person
$15.00
Monthly Pass
  • available online, in-person, or through the Transit app
$40.00
Children Under 5 years old Free
Seniors over 60 years old or Persons with DisabilitiesFree
Middle/High School Students (Yearly)
  • available through the Transit app
Free
Howard Community College Students (Yearly)
  • available through the Transit app
Free
Monthly Pass (Student)$20.00

Fixed-route fleet

!Builder and model name!Model year!Quantity!Vehicles in service!Notes
Ford Cutaway201455Truck bus
Ford Cutaway201711Truck bus
BYD K9S201633All-electric bus
El Dorado E-Z Rider 32'201777
El Dorado E-Z Rider 32'201866
El Dorado E-Z Rider 32'201922
El Dorado E-Z Rider 32'20221111
Gillig Low Floor HEV 35'200822Hybrid bus
Gillig Low Floor HEV 35'200911Hybrid bus
Gillig Low Floor HEV 35'201133Hybrid bus
Gillig Low Floor 29'200230
El Dorado HC Series 28'201410Truck bus

Proposed improvements

In October 2023, RTA released the final draft of the Central Maryland Transit Development Plan (TDP), proposing future changes and improvements to RTA bus service between Fiscal Years 2024 and 2028.[6]

Fiscal Year 2024

Two of FY2024's three proposed changes were already carried out in July 2023; namely, the 405 restructure and addition of the 505 route.

The third one proposes extending route 409 to Lansdowne Station Shopping Center. This would make the 409 the second RTA route to provide service into Baltimore County. Notably, this extension would provide a connection onto the MARC's Penn Line at Halethorpe and MTA Maryland's CityLink YELLOW, LocalLink 32, and LocalLink 29 buses to destinations in Baltimore City and County.

Fiscal Year 2025

Two proposals exist for the 2025 fiscal year: a new route between Columbia and the Johns Hopkins Applied Research Lab, and a pilot to develop microtransit along the US Route 1 corridor.

Fiscal Year 2026

The first proposal involves extending the 501 to BWI Airport, and the third involves a new express route between Columbia and the airport.

A new route between Columbia and Elkridge is proposed, eliminating the need to transfer from 501 to 409 at Maryland Food Center.

The third proposal proposes extending Montgomery County's FLASH BRT service to Downtown Columbia, creating a fast connection to Washington, DC.

Fiscal Year 2027

In the fiscal year 2027, proposals exist for creating a new route from Columbia or Laurel to Fort Meade, and extending FY2025's Catonsville to ARL route to Clarksville. This extension would provide transit in an area with currently none.

Fiscal Year 2028

Proposals for this year include a new route from Laurel to Bowie and a new route from Columbia to Maple Lawn.

Notes and References

  1. RTA Appoints New General Manager: Cristin Tolen . December 20, 2019 . November 30, 2017 . Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland .
  2. News: Baltimore Sun. Howard, Anne Arundel join to form new Regional Transportation Agency. March 27, 2014. Amanda Yeager. June 6, 2014.
  3. News: The Baltimore Sun. Howard, Anne Arundel officials lobby for regional bus system Transit lines would link communities to major employment centers . 22 April 2013. Candy Thomson.
  4. Web site: Routes 405_505_Planning – Welcome to RTA . 2023-11-19 . en-US.
  5. Web site: Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland.
  6. Web site: RTA of Central Maryland Transit Development Plan . https://web.archive.org/web/20231119191128/https://rtacentralmdtransitplan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-TDP-DRAFT-FOR-REVIEW-for-web.pdf . 19 November 2023 . 19 November 2023.