Commuter Bus Routes In Howard County Could Be Axed Under MTA Plan

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The Maryland Transit Administration has announced plans to drastically reduce or eliminate commuter-bus service options between Baltimore and Harford, Howard and Anne Arundel counties.

The MTA blamed an "unprecedented structural financial deficit in state transportation funding," according to an announcement made this week. The department said that an additional infusion of funding allocated by Gov. Moore from the fiscal year 2025 budget proposal will enable the MTA to maintain commuter bus service at a reduced level rather than eliminate it altogether in some areas.

“We recognize that the commuter bus service reduction will have a significant impact on many Marylanders,” Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold said during the announcement. “We encourage riders to visit our website to learn about alternate transit options.”

The plan essentially is to eliminate two Harford County commuter lines between Hickory and Johns Hopkins Hospital, and between Churchville and Baltimore - and reduce service on a third line, from Havre de Grace to Hopkins. The MTA would also reduce the total number of trips on the commuter lines between Columbia and Baltimore (the only line between the city and Howard County); Kent Island and Annapolis/Baltimore; Annapolis/Severna Park and Washington, D.C.; Laurel and Baltimore; and BWI Airport and the Gaithersburg Park & Ride.

Pre-pandemic, commuter buses completed 635 trips across 36 routes, with an average daily ridership of 12,000. Post-pandemic, commuter bus have logged 599 trips across 36 routes, with average daily ridership of 5,100, or 43 percent of the pre-pandemic average daily ridership, the MTA shared.

The proposed service changes would discontinue service on the following eight routes:
203 – Columbia to Bethesda
220 – Annapolis to Washington, D.C.
240 – Kent Island to Washington, D.C.
260 – Severna Park & Davidsonville to Washington, D.C.
410 – Churchville to Baltimore
411 – Hickory to Hopkins Hospital/Baltimore
810 – Pindell to Washington, D.C.
850 – Prince Frederick/Dunkirk to Suitland/Washington, D.C.

The proposed service changes would reduce the total number of trips on the following 26 routes:
201–Gaithersburg Park & Ride to BWI Marshall Airport
204 – Frederick to College Park
210 – Kent Island to Annapolis/Baltimore
230 – Annapolis/Severna Park to Washington, D.C.
305 – Columbia/Silver Spring to Washington, D.C.
310 – Columbia to Baltimore
315 – Columbia/Silver Spring to Washington, D.C.
320 – Laurel to Baltimore
325 – Columbia/Silver Spring to Washington, D.C.
335 – Clarksville/Columbia to Washington, D.C.
345 – Ellicott City/Columbia to Washington, D.C.
420 – Hickory to Hopkins Hospital/Baltimore
505 – Hagerstown to Shady Grove/Rock Spring
515 – Frederick to Shady Grove/Rock Spring
610 – Waldorf to Washington, D.C.
620 – Waldorf to Washington, D.C.
630 – La Plata/Waldorf to Washington, D.C.
640 – Waldorf/Accokeek to Washington, D.C.
650 – La Plata, Waldorf /Accokeek to Washington, D.C.
705 – Charlotte Hall/Waldorf to Washington, D.C.
715 – Charlotte Hall/Waldorf to Washington, D.C.
725 – California/Charlotte Hall to Washington, D.C.
735 – Charlotte Hall/Waldorf to Washington, D.C.
820 – North Beach/PG Equestrian Center to Washington, D.C.
830 – Sunderland/Dunkirk to Washington, D.C.
840 – St. Leonard/ Prince Frederick to Washington, D.C.
The proposed service changes would not affect the following two routes:
215 – Baltimore to Annapolis
250 – Kent Island/Davidson to Washington, D.C.

The MTA will hold five public hearings, three virtual and two in-person, on the proposed changes in March, and accept public comments through April 29 with changes set to go into effect July 1. Visit mta.maryland.gov/commuter-bus2024 for dates, times and information about how to participate in a public hearing.