Winning Name For Montgomery County Bus Rapid Transit System Announced

TAKOMA PARK, MD — The new Montgomery County Department of Transportation's Bus Rapid Transit System will officially be called "Flash," Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett announced.

Flash is the winner of MCDOT's two-month contest that started in November, which provided residents the opportunity to choose from three suggested names or propose their own.

The three possible names were Flash, Rapid or Swift, and Flash received the most votes.

“A Bus Rapid Transit system in Montgomery County will provide tremendous benefits by improving job creation and mobility options,” Leggett said. “The system is critical to our continued prosperity. We hope in the next couple years to make Flash a household name synonymous with a fast, reliable service that helps cut traffic congestion.”

>> See Related: Montgomery County Launches Naming Contest for Bus Rapid Transit System

Montgomery County's Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is expected to be the first BRT in Maryland and could serve both Montgomery and Howard counties. Montgomery County is discussing options with Howard County to make the first BRT line in the network along US 29 a bi-county service, according to a press release.

BRT will be a network of fast, reliable, train-like buses that will move more people per lane compared to cars, with each bus taking as many as 90 cars off the road. This will get travelers out of traffic and help residents reach new jobs created along its corridors.

The first BRT line is expected to open in 2020 along the US 29 corridor from Burtonsville to downtown Silver Spring. Officials estimate the bus will carry approximately 13,000 riders on its opening day.

Officials are also looking at creating BRT lines along MD 355, MD 586 (Veirs Mill Road), as well as the Corridor Cities Transitway.

Flash buses will be equipped with WiFi and USB ports. The stations will be comfortable with weather protection, pre-payment kiosks and real-time transit information.

Montgomery County residents can get more information about BRT online here.

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