ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today unveiled the transformational Old Ellicott City (OEC) Trolley, a new public transportation service coming to historic Ellicott City’s Main Street starting this Saturday, May 17th. Inspired by the historic Trolley streetcar that ran along Main Street for more than 50 years during the 19th and 20th centuries, the new OEC Trolley will better connect residents, employees, and visitors to businesses and historical resources in historic Ellicott City. Photos from the event can be found on the County’s Flickr website.
Together, we all share a common goal of ensuring our historic Ellicott City is a thriving, connected, accessible, and welcoming place for all and today, marks another exciting step towards us cementing that goal. Inspired by the historic streetcar that once ran along Main Street, our new OEC Trolley will better connect people to all that Ellicott City has to offer, from shops and restaurants to museums and public parks.
Launched in partnership with the County’s Office of Transportation (OoT), the Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland (RTA), and the Ellicott City Partnership, the OEC Trolley will run as a FREE circulator bus service along Main Street, stretching from Parking Lot F located off Ellicott Mills Drive to Parking Lot A off Oella Avenue across the Patapsco River. The trolley will operate on Saturdays and Sundays, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and will arrive at its designated trolley stops every 10 to 15 minutes. On weekends when special events or significant activities are happening in town, the OEC Trolley route will be extended up to the historic Circuit Courthouse parking lot at 8360 Court Avenue, to better connect residents and visitors with Main Street.
“This Trolley is an exciting new development that will make Main Street more accessible and convenient for local residents and tourists,” said Delegate Courtney Watson.
“The Ellicott City Partnership appreciates the County's investment in the historic downtown district by providing free and accessible shuttle service. We believe this investment will support residents, attract businesses, and foster a vibrant, equitable environment for visitors,” said Sharon Christiansen, Executive Director, Ellicott City Partnership.
To support this pilot program, the County has purchased two cutaway, ADA accessible buses, each able to hold up to 12 to 14 passengers and to accommodate wheelchairs. The County has invested approximately $300,000 for the purchase of these vehicles. The OEC Trolley will be run by the RTA and will provide a connection to RTA’s Route 405 that runs in the greater Ellicott City area along US 40.
“We at the RTA are excited about the expansion of service to OEC. This new service is in line with our mission of connecting people with places in the region,” said Jason Quan, General Manager, RTA. “The OEC service will allow people to enjoy all that OEC has to offer and at the same time help to mitigate some of the parking challenges.”
While the County has been evaluating the potential of an OEC Trolley circulator service for the past several years, the idea stems from the Ellicott City Watershed Master Plan. Unanimously adopted by the Howard County Council in December 2020, the Plan is a comprehensive, long-range visionary document that provides a community-driven vision for historic Ellicott City and the Tiber Branch Watershed. The Plan represents the culmination of a multi-year public outreach process that began in response to the 2016 flood and builds upon Ball’s Ellicott City Safe and Sound Plan. It explores multiple strategies to strengthen historic Ellicott City and promote its economic development and climate resiliency, and includes an entire chapter dedicated exclusively to transportation and parking solutions for this town.
The Plan’s Transportation Chapter outlines several key challenges facing historic Ellicott City, including poor ADA accessibility, limited parking in town, and lack of transit service along Main Street. To address these challenges, the Plan recommended “… running a small, user-friendly shuttle to Lower Main Street from the Courthouse Lot and George Howard government complex lots. The shuttle could offer well-advertised, frequent service during weekends, major events, and construction projects.”
While there are nearly 900 parking spaces located throughout Ellicott City’s historic area, these spots are dispersed and not effectively utilized. Additionally, the town’s steep hills and narrow sidewalks can make it difficult for visitors, business owners, and residents with mobility challenges to traverse the area.
Because of County Executive Ball’s efforts to revitalize Old Ellicott City, we are enhancing business opportunities and inviting visitors and patrons to discover our community. The OEC Trolley will make connections between our residents, visitors, and businesses by facilitating transportation options. This initiative is designed to alleviate traffic and existing parking congestion, and particularly for those who may have walking and mobility challenges, this is the service for you.
Fulfilling a key policy goal of the Ellicott City Watershed Master Plan and promoting a more connected, accessible, and vibrant historic Ellicott City, the County has committed to operating the OEC Trolley pilot program for one year. During its pilot year, the County will evaluate the OEC Trolley’s ridership to determine its long-term plans for the service.
“Thank you to the County for bringing more accessibility to town. This shuttle service addresses one of our greatest needs in Old Ellicott City – parking,” said Alli Krist, Owner, Backwater Books in Old Ellicott City. “The trolley creates opportunities for more people to come to town and stay in town longer to explore all that Main Street offers. I’m looking forward to the increased accessibility that the OEC Trolley Service brings.”
“Access to parking is a primary concern consistently heard from business owners and visitors to Historic Ellicott City. Thanks to the collaborative efforts between the County Executive's Office, the Office of Transportation, RTA and Ellicott City Partnership, I am very pleased to see the OEC Trolley come to fruition!” said Roy Chernikoff, Local Resident and ECP Board Member & Chair of Business Development and Special Projects Committee. “There were quite a few champions from multiple agencies that made this dream a reality. Their good work will benefit our local merchants, residents and visitors from near and far while increasing access and reducing frustration for those that come to stroll, shop and dine along our historic Main Street.”
A brief history of Ellicott City’s trolley service:
In 1899, the #9 Trolley Line was launched to provide a streetcar connection between Baltimore City, Catonsville, and Downtown Ellicott City. This historic Trolley service served Howard County’s Ellicott City community for more than 50 years until it was discontinued in the 1950s. The historic #9 Trolley Line route has since been turned into a popular biking and walking/jogging trail between Catonsville and Ellicott City.