.png) | |
 A Central MD RTA bus in Jessup heading north to Arundel Mills Mall | |
| 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, Northern Prince George's County, and Baltimore County |
| Service type | Fixed-route, Paratransit |
| Routes | 16 |
| Annual ridership | 595,497 (2022) |
| Fuel type | Diesel, gas, electric |
| Operator | First Transit |
| General Manager | Jason Quan[1] |
| Website | http://www.transitRTA.com |
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.
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 depot at Savage, Maryland designed to house 120 buses.[3]
In 2023, RTA added route 505, the first route to serve Baltimore County and connect onto an MDOT MTA CityLink bus, and restructured route 405 to better serve Ellicott City.[4]
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.[5]
- ^ "RTA Appoints New General Manager: Cristin Tolen" (Press release). Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland. November 30, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
- ^ Amanda Yeager (March 27, 2014). "Howard, Anne Arundel join to form new Regional Transportation Agency". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Routes 405_505_Planning – Welcome to RTA". Retrieved 2023-11-19.
- ^ "RTA of Central Maryland Transit Development Plan" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 November 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.