Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland

Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland, locally referred to as the RTA, is a transit organization developed to establish a more effective and efficient public transportation system across Central Maryland. The RTA is made up of multiple jurisdictions including Anne Arundel County, Howard County, City of Laurel and Northern Prince George's County. The RTA combined the management and administrative functions of multiple transit operations, reducing operating costs by over 10%, and provided a better customer service experience by improving connections across Central Maryland. The Commission allows all of the participating jurisdictions the ability to oversee transit management operations.

Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland (RTA)
FoundedJuly 1, 2014
Commenced operationJuly 1, 2014
Locale8510 Corridor Road, Suite 110, Savage, Maryland 20763
Service areaAnne Arundel, Howard County, City of Laurel and Northern Prince George's County
Service typeFixed-route, Paratransit
Routes16
Annual ridership1.8 million (fixed-route)
Fuel typeDiesel, gas and electric
OperatorFirst Transit
General ManagerJason Quan[1]
Websitehttp://www.transitRTA.com

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 terminal at Savage, Maryland designed to house 120 buses.[3]

System

As of December 2019, RTA operates 16 bus routes in Howard County, Anne Arundel County, Prince George's County, and the city of Laurel.

300-series routes (Prince George's County)
Route Route NameTerminiAreas ServedTransfers
301 South LaurelTown Centre Laurel
South Laurel Drive
LaurelRTA 302, 409, 502, 503
Metrobus 87, 89, 89M
302 Greenbelt Metro StationTown Centre Laurel
Greenbelt Metro Station
Laurel
Beltsville
Greenbelt
Metro Green Line
MARC Train
RTA 301, 409, 502, 503
Metrobus 87, 89, 89M
400-series routes (Howard County)
Route Route Name Termini Areas Served Transfers
401 Howard County Hospital / HCC Mall in Columbia
Clary's Forest
Harper's Choice Village Center
Wilde Lake Village Center
Howard County General Hospital
Howard Community College
MTA Maryland 203, 310, 320
RTA 402A/B, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 414, 501, 503
402A Columbia Crossing / Dobbin Center Mall in Columbia
Dobbin Center Walmart (via Long Reach)
Long Reach MTA Maryland 203, 310, 320
RTA 401, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 414, 501, 503
402B Columbia Crossing / Dobbin Center Mall in Columbia
Dobbin Center Walmart (via Rouse Parkway)
Long Reach MTA Maryland 203, 310, 320
RTA 401, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 414, 501, 503
403 Executive Park Drive Mall in Columbia
Columbia 100 Parkway
Dorsey's Search MTA Maryland 203, 310, 320
RTA 401, 402A/B, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 414, 501, 503
404 Hickory Ridge Mall in Columbia
Hickory Ridge Village Center
King's Contrivance
Hickory Ridge
Howard County General Hospital
Howard Community College
MTA Maryland 203, 310, 320
RTA 405, 406, 407, 408, 501, 503
405 Ellicott City Mall in Columbia
Miller Branch Library
Long Gate
Ellicott City
MTA Maryland 150, 203, 310, 320
RTA 404, 406, 407, 408, 501, 503
406 Columbia Gateway Mall in Columbia
Columbia Gateway Drive
Long Reach
Owen Brown
MTA Maryland 203, 310, 320
RTA 404, 405, 407, 408, 501, 503
407 Owen Brown / Kings Contrivance Mall in Columbia
King's Contrivance Village Center
Owen Brown
Oakland Mills
King's Contrivance
MTA Maryland 203, 310, 320
RTA 404, 405, 406, 408, 501, 503
408 Sherwood Crossing Mall in Columbia
MD Food Center/Jessup
Long Reach
Owen Brown
East Columbia/Columbia Gateway Office Park
Jessup
Waterloo
MTA Maryland 203, 310, 320
RTA 401, 402A/B, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 409, 501, 503
409 Elkridge Corners Town Centre Laurel
Elkridge
Elkridge
Jessup
Savage
Laurel
MARC Train (Savage, Laurel)
MTA Maryland 320
Metrobus 87, 89, 89M, Z7
RTA 301, 302, 409, 502, 503
414 Kings Contrivance Mall in Columbia
King's Contrivance Village Center
King's Contrivance Village Center MTA Maryland 203, 310, 320
RTA 401, 402A/B, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 501, 503
500-series regional routes
Route Route Name Termini Areas Served Transfers
501 Columbia / Arundel Mills Mall in Columbia
Arundel Mills
Jessup
South Elkridge
MTA Maryland 75, 201, 203, 305, 310, 315, 320, 325
Metrobus B30
RTA 302, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 502, 503
502 Laurel / Arundel Mills Town Centre Laurel
Arundel Mills
Laurel
Maryland City
Metrobus 87, 89, 89M, Z7
MTA Maryland 17, 201
RTA 301, 302, 409, 501
503 Laurel / Columbia Mall in Columbia
Town Centre Laurel
Laurel
Savage
Owen Brown
Metrobus 87, 89, 89M, Z7
MTA Maryland 17, 201, 203, 310, 320
RTA 301, 302, 404, 405, 406, 408, 409, 501

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, and online.[4]

TypeFare (USD)
Regular Fare/per trip$2.00
Daily Pass
*sold on bus
$5.00
Transfer
*MTA Charm Card and WMATA SmarTrip Cards accepted at designated stops
$1.00
Children Under 5-years-oldFree

References

  1. "RTA Appoints New General Manager: Cristin Tolen" (Press release). Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland. November 30, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  2. Amanda Yeager (March 27, 2014). "Howard, Anne Arundel join to form new Regional Transportation Agency". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  3. Candy Thomson (22 April 2013). "Howard, Anne Arundel officials lobby for regional bus system Transit lines would link communities to major employment centers". The Baltimore Sun.
  4. "Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland".
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