Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland

Headquarters	8510 Corridor Road, Suite 110 Savage, MD 20763
Jurisdictions	Anne Arundel County, MD Howard County, MD Laurel, MD Prince George's County, MD
Contractor	First Transit
Founded	July 1, 2014
Fleet size	~100 buses
Number of routes	15 Fixed-routes (17 proposed September 2017)
Ridership	~2 million (FY2016)
Union	Teamsters Local 370
Website	transitrta.com

Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland (RTA) is a private contracting agency in central Maryland overseeing the operation of transit service throughout the jurisdictions of Anne Arundel, Howard, and Prince George's Counties and the city of Laurel. Established on July 1, 2014, the service was at one time two separate transit companies: Corridor Transit Corporation (Connect-a-Ride) and Howard Transit - combined into one transit coalition to form the Central Maryland Regional Transit (CMRT) in early 2010's. CMRT, however, lost their contract bid to First Transit in 2014 to form, what is today, RTA. Paratransit service is also provided to residents within the Baltimore-Washington core to various points, including into the cities of Baltimore and Washington, D.C. RTA works closely with the state-owned agency Maryland Transit Administration (MTA Maryland), as well with Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and other small transit services in the region to form the Central Maryland Transit Alliance.

In June 2017, RTA introduced their regional transit improvement plan to restructure and improve bus service throughout the region. They also launched three brand new zero-emissions electric buses, built by the Chinese-based manufacturer BYD, after a more than ten-year "go-green initiative" project provided by the TIGGER program and Maryland Department of Transportation. The charging process for these buses will use Momentum Dynamics Corporation's wireless inductive underground charging technology, which is built within the bus terminal at the Mall in Columbia in Howard county. The 401/Green route is the primary service use these vehicles but other lines could see electric buses on certain occasions.

Routing List

Regional Transit Agency of central Maryland operates 15 fixed-route lines throughout four city and county jurisdictions. Bus lines connect to various other major transit services, like: MTA Maryland, WMATA, Prince George's County TheBus, and Shuttle-UM providing direct-service to the University of Maryland's College Park campus from College Park Metrorail station. The busiest and most influential line for RTA is the Route 501; providing patrons an almost express-style service between Howard county and Baltimore via Light RailLINK, while also, generating development of areas around Jessup and Columbia.

Route	Destination (A)	Destination (B)	Scheduled Days (Weekday/Saturday/Sunday) Frequency (Wk/Sat/Sun)	Connection(s) to Rail Lines (Light Rail) (Metrorail) (MARC)	Notes
301	Towne Centre Laurel	South Laurel	Wk/-/- 60/-
302	Towne Centre Laurel	Greenbelt Station	Wk/Sat/Sun 60/60/60		Replaces service for WMATA Metrobus 89M on weekends & some holidays; operating on an identical routing
401	Mall in Columbia	Clary's Forest	Wk/Sat/Sun 30-60/30-60/60
402	Mall in Columbia	Dobbin Center	Wk/Sat/Sun 60/60/60
403	Mall in Columbia	Columbia 100 Parkway / Blue Wing Circle	Wk/Sat/Sun 60/60/60
404	Mall in Columbia	Hickory Ridge Village Center	Wk/Sat/Sun 60/60/120
405	Mall in Columbia	Ellicott City	Wk/Sat/- 60/60/-
406	Mall in Columbia	Howard County Complex (Columbia Gateway Center)	Wk/-/- 60/-/-
407	Mall in Columbia	King's Contrivance	Wk/Sat/Sun 60/60/60
408	Maryland Food Center (Jessup)	Waterloo Park	Wk/Sat/Su 60/60/60
409	Towne Centre Laurel	Elkridge	Wk/Sat/- 60/60/-
501	Arundel Mills	Mall in Columbia	Wk/Sat/Su 60/60/60
502 Weekdays	Towne Centre Laurel	Arundel Mills	Wk/Sat/Sun 45-60/90/90
503	Towne Centre Laurel	Mall in Columbia	Wk/Sat/- 60/60/-
505	Catonsville Walmart	Mall in Columbia	Wk/Sat/Sun 60/60/60

Fleet roster

RTA's existing fleet consists of former Howard Transit and Connect-a-Ride (CTC) buses that absorb into one company after the merger to form the predecessor, Central Maryland Regional Transit. Some information is not complete and other bus models are missing, so the immediate vehicles from as early as 2001 is seen in the description below. Some buses were leased then exempt – or deemed missing – from any service records after the merger to form CMRT. A total of around forty buses are leased or bought out from other transit companies.

Current

Accurate as of 2024.

Fleet Number(s)	Thumbnail	Build Date	Manufacturer	Model	Engine/Motor	Transmission/ Propulsion	Notes
1701-1703		2017	BYD	K9S	2 x 100 kW AC synchronous motor	80 kWh iron-phosphate battery	Wireless charging technology by Momentum Dynamics Corporation. First zero-emissions buses for RTA.
1704-1710		2017	ENC	E-Z Rider II BRT 32'	Cummins ISB6.7	Allison B300R	Began revenue operations in December 2017
1801-1806		2018	ENC	E-Z Rider II BRT 32'	Cummins ISB6.7	Allison B300R	Order approved in November 2017 for six buses
1901-1902		2019	ENC	E-Z Rider II BRT 32'	Cummins B6.7	Allison B300R
2201-2211		2022	ENC	E-Z Rider II BRT 32'	Cummins B6.7
2301-2302		2023					Possibly E-Z Rider II BRT 32's 2302 in service
9525		2010	Gillig	Low Floor HEV 35' (G30B102N4)	Cummins ISB	Allison EP40 hybrid system
9534-9536		2011	Gillig	Low Floor HEV 35' (G30B102N4)	Cummins ISB6.7	Allison H 40 EP hybrid system	9536 was involved in major accident in fall 2016. It has since been restored and placed back into service with new RTA livery.

On Order

Fleet Number(s)	Thumbnail	Build Date	Manufacturer	Model	Engine	Transmission	Notes
No known outstanding orders

Retired

Fleet Number(s)	Thumbnail	Build Date	Manufacturer	Model	Engine/ Motor	Transmission/ Propulsion	Notes
x01-x08		2010	? Colonial Equipment Company	? Azura Citibus		Hybrid System	Used primarily for paratransit service. Build quality by Colonial Equipment Corporation Initial agreement to order 25 buses overall; contract was withheld the same year. Retired in 2012?
22-24		2009	Ford C&E	E-450 Phoenix	Ford Power Stroke V8 diesel	5-speed automatic	22 VIN: 1FDFE45P89DA21222, plate: LG87907 VIN: 1FDFE45PX9DA21223, plate: LG87908 VIN: 1FDFE45P19DA21224, plate: LG87909
0701-0710?		2007?	IC Bus Champion	3200 Defender	International VT 365	Allison 2000	Ex-Connect-a-Ride (contracted by Yellow Transportation). Retired before merger.
7001-7012		2006	Thomas	Saf-T-Liner HDX	Detroit Diesel MBE 900	Allison MD 3000	Ex-Prince George's County TheBus. Leased in 2011-12. Some retired.
8900-8903		1999	NABI	416.09	Cummins M11E	Allison B400R	Leased from MTA Maryland in 2014. Used primarily on Route 501/Silver. Retired in 2017.
8904-8906		2006	Optima	Opus LFB-29	Cummins ISB		Leased from MTA Maryland in 2015(?), ex-06011-06013
8907-8911		2000	NABI	416.10	Cummins M11E	Allison B400R	Leased from MTA Maryland in 2017. Used primarily on Route 501/Silver.
9512-9515		2001	Freightliner ?	FB-65 ?	Caterpillar 3126	Allison 2400	Retired in 2016.
9516-9519		2002?	Ford StarTrans	E-450 ?	Ford 7.3L Power Stroke V8 diesel	Ford 5-speed Automatic	Retired in 2016.
9520-9521		2008	Gillig	Low Floor HEV 35' (G30B102N4)	Cummins ISB	Allison EP40 hybrid system
9522-9524		2008	Chevrolet Champion	C5500 Defender	GM 6.6L Duramax V8 diesel
9526-9533		2010	IC Bus ElDorado National	HC Series 28' Aero Elite Hybrid	International MaxxForce DT	Eaton Fuller hybrid system	2011 models. 9527 VIN: 1HVBTAAM5BH284344, plate: LG90814 9528 VIN: 1HVBTAAM7BH284345, plate: LG90816 9529 VIN: 1HVBTAAM9BH284346, plate: LG90726 9530 VIN: 1HVBTAAM0BH284347, plate: LG90727 9531 VIN: 1HVBTAAM2BH284348, plate: LG90728 9532 VIN: 1HVBTAAM4BH284349, plate: LG90815 9533 VIN: 1HVBTAAM0BH284350
9537-9539		2011-2012	IC Bus ElDorado National	HC Series 28' Aero Elite Hybrid	International MaxxForce DT	Eaton Fuller hybrid system	9537 was retired after being involved in a major accident in May 2016. 9537 VIN: 5WEASAAM7DJ626339, plate: LG94452 9538 VIN: 5WEASAAM3DJ626340, plate: LG94453 9539 VIN: 5WEASAAM5DJ626341, plate: LG94454
9540-9542		2013	IC Bus ElDorado National	HC Series 28' Aero Elite Hybrid	International MaxxForce DT	Eaton Fuller hybrid system
9543		2014	IC Bus ElDorado National	HC Series 28' Aero Elite Hybrid	International MaxxForce DT	Allison 2000 series	2015 model. ADA-compliant wheelchair lift is located near the front door.
9544-9549		2002	Gillig	Low Floor 29' (G18E102R2)	Cummins ISC	Voith DIWA 864.3	Ex-Duluth Transit Authority 274, 277-278, 280, 276, 273, bought in 2014.
9550-9554		2002	Gillig	Low Floor 35' (G27B102N4)	Cummins ISL	Voith D864.3	Ex-St. Cloud Metropolitan Transit Commission 602-603, 605, 617-618, bought in 2014.
9703		2004	Chevrolet ElDorado National	Kodiak C5500 Aero Elite	GM 6.6L Duramax V8 diesel	5-speed Automatic	Ex-Connect-a-Ride (contracted by Yellow Transportation). VIN: 1GBE5V1284F518501, plate: 03292LG
9704-9709		2006?	IC Bus ElDorado National	3200 Aero Elite	International VT 365	Allison 2000	Ex-Connect-a-Ride (contracted by Yellow Transportation).
9710-9711		2008?	IC Bus Champion	3200 EZ Trans	International VT 365	Allison 2000	Ex-Connect-a-Ride (contracted by Yellow Transportation).

Paratransit

Fleet number(s)	Thumbnail	Year	Manufacturer	Model	Engine/Motor	Transmission/ Propulsion	Notes
1-9		2014	Ford	Fusion Hybrid	2.0 L Inline-4 cyl	CVT Ford HF35 1.4 kWh lithium-ion battery
200-204		2014	Ford/C&E	E-450/Phoenix	Ford 6.8L V10 gasoline	Ford 5-speed transmission	Primarily used for paratransit service however can be found on fixed-routes. Some units feature destination signs.
205-212		2015	Ford/C&E	E-450/Phoenix	Ford 6.8L V10 gasoline	Ford 5-speed transmission	Primarily used for paratransit service. Some units feature destination signs.
213-220		2017	Ford/C&E	E-450/Phoenix	Ford 6.8L V10 gasoline	Ford 5-speed transmission	Primarily used for paratransit service.
225-229		2019	Ford/?	Transit 350/?	Ford 3.7L gasoline		Primarily used for paratransit service.