Howard County, MD – After a decade of planning, officials from Howard and Montgomery counties unveiled their proposal for the US 29 Flash Bus Rapid Transit Service Expansion on Tuesday. This service is scheduled to commence operations in 2026.
The Flash BRT system will offer commuters an efficient way to move across the counties situated along the US 29 corridor. This current route running from Silver Spring to Burtonsville will be expanded into Howard County, featuring additional stops at key locations such as Maple Lawn, Downtown Columbia, and the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory site in Laurel.
The expanded BRT service in Howard County will debut as a peak-hour option, with buses operating between downtown Columbia and Silver Spring during weekday mornings and afternoons to cater to commuters. The morning runs will be from 5 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., followed by evening services from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. These routes will operate every half an hour.
More than ten years ago, this idea for a Flash Bus Rapid Transit system was first conceived as a transformative solution for our local economy, job market, and citizens. Since then, Howard County has started preparing to make this concept a reality with the aim of providing robust transit links essential for addressing the requirements of our inhabitants, labor force, and enterprises,” stated Howard County Executive Calvin Ball at a press briefing. “It’s clear that building a sturdy and equitable future necessitates investing in accessible, effective, and top-notch public transport systems tailored to meet the demands of our community,” he added.
This segment of US 29 linking Columbia with Silver Spring will eventually integrate into the Flash BRT system, encompassing an additional seven routes and more than 100 stations throughout Montgomery County,” stated Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “The implementation of Flash BRT allows for greater density in our developments while enhancing connectivity between Montgomery and Howard counties. This represents a wise, eco-friendly investment promoting economic expansion, advancing fairness, and ensuring efficient and responsible transportation.
Howard County expects the construction of the bus stations to begin this autumn and finish by the summer of 2026. Similarly, Montgomery County anticipates receiving its four 40-foot buses next summer as well.
As this initiative ranks high among national transportation priorities, it will be allocated $4.1 million in federal funds. Montgomery County secured $3.35 million from federal sources for this purpose, whereas Howard County obtained $750,000. Additionally, Howard County has pledged an investment of $3 million towards the endeavor.
For additional information about the initiative, check out the Flash Bus Rapid Transit site at
www.howardcountymd.gov/transportation/public-transportation/Flash
.
The article
New Bus Line Set to Connect Two Congested Maryland Counties
appeared first on
Ellicott City
.
Leave a Reply