ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today was joined by Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich to announce and formalize a groundbreaking partnership between the two counties to launch the US 29 Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Service Extension project in 2026. More than a decade in the making and Howard County’s first BRT service, this impactful and innovative project will connect transit riders to activity and employment centers within Howard County to Montgomery County and beyond, increasing the region’s available mobility and accessibility options for residents and visitors. Photos from the event can be found on the County’s Flickr webpage.
First envisioned more than a decade ago, this Flash Bus Rapid Transit service will be a gamechanger for our economy, workforce, and residents. We are delivering on this vision to deliver strong transit connections that are vital to supporting the needs of our residents, workforce, and businesses. We know that to build a resilient and inclusive future, we must invest in affordable, efficient, and high-quality public transportation that meets the needs of our community. I want to thank my fellow County Executive Marc Elrich and our federal and state partners for realizing this project’s importance to Howard County and for helping make it a reality.
Flash BRT is a fast, reliable, and efficient transit system that will provide high quality transit service along the US 29 corridor. Through this partnership with Montgomery County, the existing Flash service that runs from Silver Spring to Burtonsville will be extended into Howard County, with new bus stops in Maple Lawn, Downtown Columbia, and the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) campus in Laurel.
This extended BRT service in Howard County will launch as a peak hour service, meaning the buses will run between Downtown Columbia and Silver Spring during rush hour times in the morning and afternoon from Monday to Friday to accommodate employees. Morning service will run from 5:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., while afternoon service will run from 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Service will run on a 30-minute headway.
This portion of US 29 between Columbia and Silver Spring will ultimately connect to the Flash BRT network, which includes seven additional corridors and over 100 stops across Montgomery County. Flash BRT enables us to support higher-density development while strengthening connections between Montgomery and Howard Counties. It’s a smart, sustainable investment that promotes economic growth, advances equity and moves people efficiently and responsibly.
Earlier this year, the County formally entered into a multiyear Memorandum of Understanding with Montgomery County to initiate the BRT partnership between the two jurisdictions. Today, Ball and Elrich jointly signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to outline the goals of the Flash partnership and commit to future collaboration. Through this partnership, the BRT service extension will:
- benefit both Howard County and Montgomery County by improving regional mobility and accessibility.
- provide a cleaner, more efficient transportation option for residents and employees.
- enhance air quality, reduce transit commute times, and improve overall connectivity between Howard County and Montgomery County.
- support future county-to-county partnerships in addressing regional transit needs.
The Flash BRT service extension is expected to launch in mid-2026. Howard County anticipates construction of the bus stations to begin in fall 2025 and be completed by summer 2026, with Montgomery County anticipating the delivery of the service’s four 40-foot buses to be next summer as well.
“Expanding Marylanders’ access to public transportation helps connect our communities and opens more doors of opportunity. That’s why we fought to deliver $4 million in federal funding to help Howard and Montgomery Counties expand their public transportation partnership to serve more residents – bringing the region together and boosting our economy,” said Senator Chris Van Hollen.
The project is a regional transportation priority at the federal level, with $4.1 million in key funding to support the BRT service extension delivered by Maryland’s Congressional Delegation in Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024, led by then Senator Cardin, Senator Van Hollen, and Congressman Sarbanes. In 2022, Montgomery County received $3.35 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for the purchase of buses to extend the Flash BRT service to Maple Lawn and Downtown Columbia. The following year, Howard County received $750,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending to support the construction of the Flash BRT service stations in Maple Lawn, Downtown Columbia, and Johns Hopkins APL. Additionally, Ball has committed approximately $3 million in County funding to support the construction of Flash BRT bus stops and the acquisition of BRT buses.
"Team Maryland continues to drive economic progress and invest in our communities. I am proud that the US 29 Flash Bus Rapid Transit Service Extension project is officially launched and know that this fast, reliable transit system will serve Howard and Montgomery counties for generations to come. I want to thank County Executives Ball and Elrich for their tireless work on behalf of our communities,” said Senator Angela Alsobrooks.
“The expansion of the US 29 Flash Bus Rapid Transit Service into Howard County is a terrific example of strong local and federal partnership. With new stops in Maple Lawn, Downtown Columbia, and the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, we are investing in our local economy and workforce by connecting Marylanders to even more workplaces and businesses. This is Team Maryland at its best: local, state, and federal colleagues working together to deliver federal funding for high-quality transit solutions that meet the needs of our community,” said Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth.
Planning for the Flash BRT service has been more than a decade in the making, with the County first conducting a BRT concept study in 2012 after the adoption of the Maple Lawn development plan and the Downtown Columbia Plan. Following that study, the County completed a Phase 1 BRT Report in 2013, a Phase 2 BRT Study in 2016, and a BRT Ridership Study in 2019. Forecasted ridership results showed robust daily BRT boardings under different service scenarios modeled, providing a strong and data-informed case to support the extension of BRT service in Howard County. Today’s announcement takes those plans and studies and translates them into action, with the promise of Flash BRT service along the US 29 corridor moving forward in 2026.
To learn more about this project, including to view copies of the previous BRT Studies and Reports, visit OoT’s “Flash Bus Rapid Transit” website at www.howardcountymd.gov/transportation/public-transportation/Flash/transportation/public-transportation/Flash.
Here’s what others had to say about the new Flash partnership:
- Joe McAndrew, Assistant Secretary for Planning and Project Development, Maryland Department of Transportation – “MDOT is proud to support the Flash's extension into Howard County along US 29, a vital economic corridor. This bus rapid transit expansion will improve the commutes of many Maryland workers along the busy corridor and will help move more people safely, efficiently and reliably. The extension along a State Highway right of way shows the Moore Administration’s commitment to working together with local governments to leverage our roads to prioritize and efficiently connect people and goods to their end destination.”
- Erik Johnson, Chief of Staff, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory – “APL is Howard County’s largest private employer, and just under half of our nearly 9,000 staff members live in and commute to the Lab from Howard and Montgomery counties. This expansion is a great example of governments, businesses, and communities working together to deliver improved infrastructure for the amazing people and innovative companies that call Howard County, Montgomery County, and Maryland their home. I am confident that it will get ample use by our staff members, and that other local businesses and organizations – and the folks who work there – will benefit from this new line as well.”
- Clarence Dickerson, III, Administrator of the Howard County Office of Transportation – “Through collaborative efforts between Howard County and Montgomery County, we are excited to bring this over a decade long project into fruition. We will enhance services by integrating real-time transit information, which will benefit both riders and local businesses, along with raised platforms for boarding, prefabricated transit shelter, bike racks, seating, and lighting. The US 29 Flash Extension is a vital project that will improve connectivity within both communities.”
- Joana Conklin, Montgomery County Manager of Transit Development, Advancement, and Innovation and Director, AccelerateMC Regional Infrastructure Accelerator for Montgomery County General Services – “We’re excited to expand the US29 Flash service to our neighbors in Howard County. Thanks to a $3.3 million federal grant and matching support from Howard County, we’re able to invest in the new Flash buses needed to make this service extension a success. Taking a regional view when planning transit is essential to creating a connected, efficient, and equitable network that meets the needs of all our communities.”