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.
Founded | July 1, 2014 |
---|---|
Commenced operation | July 1, 2014 |
Locale | 8510 Corridor Road, Suite 110, Savage, Maryland 20763 |
Service area | Anne Arundel, Howard County, City of Laurel and Northern Prince George's County |
Service type | Fixed-route, Paratransit |
Routes | 16 |
Annual ridership | 1.8 million (fixed-route) |
Fuel type | Diesel, gas and electric |
Operator | First Transit |
General Manager | Jason Quan[1] |
Website | http://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.
Route | Route Name | Termini | Areas Served | Transfers |
---|---|---|---|---|
301 | South Laurel | Town Centre Laurel South Laurel Drive | Laurel | RTA 302, 409, 502, 503 Metrobus 87, 89, 89M |
302 | Greenbelt Metro Station | Town Centre Laurel Greenbelt Metro Station | Laurel Beltsville Greenbelt | Metro Green Line MARC Train RTA 301, 409, 502, 503 Metrobus 87, 89, 89M |
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 |
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]
Type | Fare (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-old | Free |
References
- "RTA Appoints New General Manager: Cristin Tolen" (Press release). Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland. November 30, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
- Amanda Yeager (March 27, 2014). "Howard, Anne Arundel join to form new Regional Transportation Agency". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
- 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.
- "Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland".