ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, along with Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, broke ground Thursday on Howard County’s first-ever Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Bus Stop in Columbia. Photos from the event can be viewed on the County’s Flickr page. The announcement can be viewed on the County’s YouTube page.
Here in Howard County, transit service continues to grow as gas prices rise and families are looking for more affordable and sustainable options to travel,” said Ball. “These pressures remind us that demand for transit is real, it is growing, and it deserves our investment. Today, more than a decade of planning becomes action. As we break ground on our first Flash Bus Rapid Transit bus stations, we affirm that high-quality, public transportation is the foundation of a vibrant, inclusive, and connected community.
Howard County has been planning and evaluating the implementation of BRT system for more than a decade. A BRT concept study was completed in 2012 following the adoption of the Maple Lawn development plan and the Downtown Columbia Plan. Following the BRT Concept 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.
In 2025, Ball and Elrich signed a Letter of Intent to initiate and commit to the Flash BRT partnership between the two counties. Flash BRT service has been operating in Montgomery County for many years. This partnership will extend the service area into Howard County. Four fully electric, 40-foot buses will run between Downtown Columbia and Silver Spring during morning and afternoon rush hours from Monday to Friday. Morning service will run approximately from 5:00AM to 9:30AM, while afternoon service will run from 3:30PM to 8:00PM. The initial service will run on 30-minute headways.
“Bus Rapid Transit is one of the most important transportation infrastructure investments,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “People cross between Howard and Montgomery County every day for jobs, schools, healthcare, entertainment and opportunities. Our transportation network needs to reflect that reality. This extension of Flash along the US 29 corridor creates faster and more reliable access to major transit hubs like Metro, MARC and eventually the Purple Line. I appreciate our federal delegation, our partners in Howard County and everyone at MCDOT who helped move this project forward. Regional partnerships like this improve quality of life and expand economic opportunity.”
The Columbia bus stops, located on Little Patuxent Parkway, just west of Corporate Center Way, and on Merriweather Drive in Downtown Columbia are the first of three bus station locations throughout the county. The other stations will be located on Johns Hopkins Road, to serve the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory campus in Laurel, and on Maple Lawn Boulevard in Fulton. Construction of all stations is expected to be completed in August 2026, weather permitting.
“The US29 Flash BRT Extension is more than just a transit line; it will serve as a crucial link connecting key employment centers and activity hubs, significantly improving transit connectivity across both Baltimore and Washington DC,” said Trey Dickerson, Administrator of the Howard County Office of Transportation.
The project has received funding from the federal, state and local levels. In Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024, Maryland’s Congressional Delegation, led by then Senator Ben Cardin, Senator Chris Van Hollen, and Congressman Sarbanes directed more than $4.1 million to support the BRT service extension. Additionally, Ball has committed more than $4.1 million in County funding to support the construction of Flash BRT bus stops, the acquisition of BRT buses, and the launch of bus service in Fiscal Year 2027.
The Flash bus stop stations will feature a raised concrete bus platform to support level boarding for Flash transit vehicles, trash receptacles, bike racks and real-time transit information displays.
Downtown Columbia was chosen as one of the three locations for Flash BRT Service because it is in the midst of a transformative 30-year redevelopment as part of the Downtown Columbia Master Plan. As part of that plan, the County is currently undergoing construction of the new Performing Arts Center and Artists Flats, which will feature a 340-seat dinner theater, a public art gallery, dance studios and 174 mixed-income units. Earlier this month, Ball, along with the Columbia Association, cut the ribbon on the new Lakefront Stage, which will become a permanent area for a diverse array of performances and entertainment. The redevelopment of Downtown Columbia is expected to bring approximately 12,000 new residents and hundreds of businesses to the area.
“The Downtown Columbia Partnership has been a vocal advocate for extending Flash into Howard County because we know that thriving downtowns depend on strong multimodal transportation options,” said Phillip Dodge, Executive Director of the Downtown Columbia Partnership. “Projects like this are about people. They give residents more freedom and flexibility in how they travel. They reduce congestion. And they build a downtown that is connected not just internally, but to the broader region.”
“By extending Flash BRT along the 29 Corridor, we're doing more than adding a transit route. We're connecting communities, expanding economic opportunity, and building a more sustainable future for everyone who calls this corridor home,” said Kristi Smith, President of the Maryland Region for Howard Hughes Communities. “The Merriweather District is proof that smart investment and strategic planning can transform a place, and today that momentum continues.” Since taking office in 2018, Ball has prioritized expanding and enhancing public transportation options in the county. Last year, the RTA transit service reached 1 million rides-the first in County history. Additionally, HoCo Rapid Ride, a popular on-demand, microtransit service, has provided nearly 30,000 trips since its launch last year.
Flash BRT service is expected to begin in Howard County in Fall 2026.
Signs will be posted to notify motorists and residents of the construction and corresponding lane closures as temporary lane closures may occur during construction hours, typically Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Additionally, full-time lane closures are anticipated to occur during utility relocation work, which may occur outside designated construction hours.
While the County and its transportation partners work hard to maintain safe traffic mobility in work zones, drivers are reminded to stay alert and look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers. Please slow down and don’t follow too closely when traveling through a work zone. Remember, work zone safety is in your hands.
For questions or concerns about Capital Project C-0332, contact Public Works Customer Service at 410-313-3440 or email publicworks@howardcountymd.gov.
For information about Flash BRT, visit the County’s Office of Transportation’s “Flash Bus Rapid Transit” website or contact the office at 410-313-4312 or email transportation@howardcountymd.gov.