The Montgomery County Department of Transportation will extend its Flash bus rapid transit service to Howard County next year.
The Colesville Road and Columbia Pike (U.S. 29) Flash BRT route connecting downtown Silver Spring to Briggs Chaney began operation in 2020, with high-frequency service to Burtonsville during peak hours.
Construction for four additional stations north of Burtonsville along U.S. 29 will begin this spring for operation beginning in 2026. According to MCDOT’s monthly Go Montgomery! Newsletter, these new stations will offer frequent bus service during weekday rush hours.
MCDOT said that the partnership between Montgomery and Howard Counties aims to provide faster and more convenient access to larger transit hubs, including Metro, MARC train, and the future Maryland Purple Line.
The MoCo Show reports that a pilot program will be implemented to assess the service levels and demand required to fully establish a bus rapid transit system in Howard County and the surrounding region. If this pilot program proves successful, further expansions may extend to Long Gate in Ellicott City and other corridors in Howard County.
Flash fares are $1 per ride; however, seniors aged 65 and older, individuals with disabilities, and youth aged 18 and under can ride for free with specialized SmarTrip cards.
More information about Flash can be found online at montgomerycountymd.gov.
Photo: “13.BusStop.SSMD.20October2020” by Elvert Barnes is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.