Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland

Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland (RTA)
A Central MD RTA bus in Jessup heading north to Arundel Mills Mall
FoundedJuly 1, 2014
Commenced operation
July 1, 2014
Locale8510 Corridor Road, Suite 110, Savage, Maryland 20763
Service areaAnne Arundel, Howard County, City of Laurel, Northern Prince George's County, and Baltimore County
Service typeFixed-route, Paratransit
Routes16
Annual ridership
1,021,870 (FY2025)[1]
Fuel typeDiesel, gas, electric
OperatorTransdev
General Manager
Jason Quan[2]
Websitehttp://www.transitRTA.com

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.[3]

In 2014, Howard County broke ground on a $7.2 million bus depot at Savage, Maryland designed to house 120 buses.[4]

In 2023, RTA added route 505, the first route to serve Baltimore County.[5]

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.[6]

Fares

Bus fare is $2.00 or purchase on the Transit app.[7]

Routes

As of August 2026, 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 Weekday service only 60 min
302 Greenbelt Metro Station Towne Centre Laurel Greenbelt Metro Station 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[6]

Route Name Terminals Areas served Service Headway Notes
401 Harper's Choice / Clary's Forest Mall in Columbia Clary's Forest
  • 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 60 min
405 Ellicott City Ellicott City Walmart Pine Orchard Lane RTA 505 No Sunday service, 60 min
407 Owen Brown / Kings Contrivance Mall in Columbia King's Contrivance Village Center 60 min
408 Lark Brown / Waterloo Mall in Columbia Waterloo Park 60 min
409 Elkridge Corners Towne Centre Laurel Elkridge 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 60 min
  • Highest ridership route system wide.[6]
502 Laurel / Arundel Mills Towne Centre Laurel Arundel Mills
  • 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 No Sunday service 60 min
505 Columbia / Catonsville Mall in Columbia Catonsville Walmart 60 min

Hubs

RTA has a number of transit hubs where numerous bus lines meet. They include:

Active Fixed-route fleet

(As of July 29, 2026)

Model Fleet number Quantity Notes


2017 Eldorado EZ Rider 32' BRT 1704-1710 7 1708 retired
2018 Eldorado EZ Rider 32' BRT 1801-1806 6 1806 retired
2019 Eldorado EZ rider 32' BRT 1901-1902 2
2022 Eldorado EZ Rider 32' BRT 2201-2211 11
2022 Eldorado Buses (2211 the bus on the left and 2202 is the bus on the right)
2023 Eldorado EZ Rider 32' BRT 2301-2302 2
2302 Parked at the Mall In Columbia operating the 501 to Arundel Mills
2024 Eldorado EZ Rider 32' BRT 72924-73224 4
73124 parked at the Mall In Columbia
2026 Gillig low floor 30' 73326-73926 7 should start delivery Q4 of 2026

Active Paratransit/ Light duty fleet

(As of July 29, 2026)

Model Fleet number Quantity Notes


2014 C&E Phoenix 25ft Ford Cutaway 200-204 5
2015 C&E Phoenix 25ft Ford Cutaway 205-212 8
2017 C&E Phoenix 25ft Ford Cutaway 213-220 8
2019 ford transit 225-229 5
2023 C&E Phoenix 25ft Ford Cutaway 230-241 12
2024 C&E Phoenix 25ft Ford Cutaway 24224-24324 2
24324 Parked at Waterloo Park on layover from operating route 408
2024 RAM Promaster 30124-30424 4 Primarily used on HoCo Rapid Ride Microtransit (launched in 2025)
2025 C&E Phoenix (Shuttle Version) Ford Cutaway 24425-24525 2 primarily used on the OEC Trolley Shuttle route/ both are wrapped with the OEC Trolley Shuttle livery
Vehicle 24425 operating on the OEC Trolley Shuttle Route with the OEC Trolley wrap

References

  1. ↑ "Howard County Achieves Historic One Million Transit Rides through the Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland (RTA); Highlights Free Rides for Students and Enhancements to RTA Service | Howard County". howardcountymd.gov. August 29, 2025. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  2. ↑ "RTA Appoints New General Manager: Cristin Tolen" (Press release). Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland. November 30, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  3. ↑ Yeager, Amanda (March 27, 2014). "Howard, Anne Arundel join to form new Regional Transportation Agency". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on June 26, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  4. ↑ Thomson, Candy (April 22, 2013). "Howard, Anne Arundel officials lobby for regional bus system Transit lines would link communities to major employment centers". The Baltimore Sun.
  5. ↑ "Routes 405_505_Planning – Welcome to RTA". Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 "RTA of Central Maryland Transit Development Plan" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland".
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