The Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland, locally referred to as the RTA, is a transit organization providing fixed-route and paratransit services across Central Maryland. The RTA is made up of multiple jurisdictions including Anne Arundel County, Howard County, the City of Laurel, Northern Prince George's County, and Baltimore County.
History 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.
In 2014, Howard County broke ground on a $7.2 million bus depot at Savage, Maryland designed to house 120 buses.
In 2023, RTA added route 505, the first route to serve Baltimore County.
In October 2023, RTA released the final draft of the Central Maryland Transit Development Plan (TDP), proposing future changes and improvements to RTA bus service between fiscal years 2024 and 2028.
Fares Bus fare is $2.00 or purchase on the Transit app.
Routes
, RTA operates 14 bus routes in Howard County, Anne Arundel County, Prince George's County, the city of Laurel, and Baltimore County. Most routes operate daily service unless otherwise noted.
300-Series routes (Prince George's County) In 2028 Route 301 will be extended to Bowie state university making stops along MD197 Route Name Terminals Areas served Service Headway Notes 301 South Laurel Towne Centre Laurel South Laurel Drive Laurel Weekday service only 60 min 302 Greenbelt Metro Station Towne Centre Laurel Greenbelt Metro Station Laurel Beltsville Greenbelt Weekday and Weekend service 60 min
400-Series routes (Howard County) In 2023, an extension to Route 409 from Elkridge to Lansdowne and Halethorpe was proposed but it was delayed until 2026/2027
Route Name Terminals Areas served Service Headway Notes 401 Harper's Choice / Clary's Forest Mall in Columbia Clary's Forest Harper's Choice Village Center Wilde Lake Village Center Howard County General Hospital Howard Community College Weekdays and Saturdays: 30 min (until 6 PM) 60 min (evenings) Sundays: 60 min 403 Executive Park Drive Mall in Columbia Columbia 100 Parkway Dorsey's Search 60 min 404 Hickory Ridge Mall in Columbia Hickory Ridge Village Center King's Contrivance Hickory Ridge Howard County General Hospital Howard Community College 60 min 405 Ellicott City Ellicott City Walmart Pine Orchard Lane Long Gate Ellicott City RTA 505 No Sunday service, 60 min 407 Owen Brown / Kings Contrivance Mall in Columbia King's Contrivance Village Center Owen Brown Oakland Mills King's Contrivance 60 min 408 Lark Brown / Waterloo Mall in Columbia Waterloo Park Long Reach Owen Brown East Columbia/Columbia Gateway Office Park Waterloo 60 min 409 Elkridge Corners Towne Centre Laurel Elkridge Elkridge Jessup Savage Laurel No Sunday service 60 min
500-Series regional routes The 501 is Proposed to start running to BWI airport in mid to late 2026 Route Name Terminals Areas served Service Headway Notes 501 Columbia / Arundel Mills Mall in Columbia Arundel Mills Jessup South Elkridge 60 min Highest ridership route system wide. 502 Laurel / Arundel Mills Towne Centre Laurel Arundel Mills Laurel Maryland City Weekdays: 60 min (until 7 PM) 120 min After 7PM Weekends: 120 min Only route to have a 120-minute headway. 503 Laurel / Columbia Mall in Columbia Towne Centre Laurel Laurel Savage Owen Brown No Sunday service 60 min 505 Columbia / Catonsville Mall in Columbia Catonsville Walmart Columbia Ellicott City Catonsville 60 min
Hubs RTA has a number of transit hubs where numerous bus lines meet. They include: Arundel Mills Mall in Columbia Towne Centre at Laurel
Active Fixed-route fleet () ModelFleet numberQuantityNotes2017 Eldorado EZ Rider 32' BRT1704-171071708 retired2018 Eldorado EZ Rider 32' BRT1801-180661806 retired2019 Eldorado EZ rider 32' BRT1901-19022 2022 Eldorado EZ Rider 32' BRT 2201-2211112023 Eldorado EZ Rider 32' BRT2301-230222024 Eldorado EZ Rider 32' BRT72924-7322442026 Gillig low floor 30'26907-269137 Active Paratransit/ Light duty fleet () ModelFleet numberQuantityNotes2014 C&E Phoenix 25ft Ford Cutaway200-2045 2015 C&E Phoenix 25ft Ford Cutaway205-21282017 C&E Phoenix 25ft Ford Cutaway213-2208 2019 ford transit 225-22952023 C&E Phoenix 25ft Ford Cutaway230-241122024 C&E Phoenix 25ft Ford Cutaway24224-243242 2024 RAM Promaster30124-304244Primarily used on HoCo Rapid Ride Microtransit (launched in 2025)2025 C&E Phoenix (Shuttle Version) Ford Cutaway24425-245252 primarily used on the OEC Trolley Shuttle route/ both are wrapped with the OEC Trolley Shuttle livery
References
External links