Ride-On App Will Give Passenger Counts, Bus Status Next Spring

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Users of the Ride-On buses will find some added perks next spring, as the county works to unveil an app that will tell riders how many passengers are already on the bus they plan to catch, as well as bus statuses.

The Federal Transit Administration awarded $450,000 to the Montgomery County Department of Transportation to develop the app, which MCDOT plans to debut sometime in spring 2022.

“This program will undoubtedly enhance the user experience by shortening wait times and increasing reliability as we transition back into in-person activities,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “The app will also allow for trip planning and contribute to the overall ease of public transit use.”

The statement announcing the grant says that "strategically placed buses" will shorten wait times when congestion on some routes appears. New buses can be dispactched to routes and users will be alerted by the app about a new app. MCDOT says it is the first transit system in the region to deploy more buses when routes are filling up.

“This project will support social equity by making our buses more reliable for our residents that depend on them,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “In order for us to achieve our county's goal of reducing carbon emissions, we need to reduce the number of cars on our roads and increase the number of residents choosing mass-transit as their commuting option. By improving the reliability of our buses and cutting down on wait times, we are making transit a more attractive option for our residents.”

Ride On buses are currently free for all riders, a change made during the pandemic.

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