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%,^{[citation needed]} 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.

Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland (RTA)

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^[update], RTA operates 16 bus routes in Howard County, Anne Arundel County, Prince George's County, and the city of Laurel.

300-series routes (Prince George's County)

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

400-series routes (Howard County)

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

500-series regional routes

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:

• Arundel Mills
• Mall in Columbia
• Towne Centre at Laurel

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

1. "RTA Appoints New General Manager: Cristin Tolen" (Press release). Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland. November 30, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
2. Amanda Yeager (March 27, 2014). "Howard, Anne Arundel join to form new Regional Transportation Agency". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
3. 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.
4. "Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland".

External links

• www.transitRTA.com