Updated as of July 30, 2024.
Public transportation provides an inexpensive way to travel around our communities. Please find below information about public transportation services in Central Maryland: Howard County, Carroll County, and Fredrick County.
Howard County
The Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland offers both public and paratransit services in Howard County.
Routes and schedules: RTA currently offers fourteen different routes
Download and review up-to-date route information
At this time, two routes, numbers 406 and 414, are not operating
Transit App
Provides real-time information about the location of buses and stops
May use to purchase RTA tickets (tickets purchased on the RTA app include free transfers within 90 minutes)
Works on multiple public transit systems
- Download the free Transit app in the Apple App Store
- Download the free Transit app in the Google Play Store
Fares
$2 one-way fares; Day and multi-day passes are available
Person with a Disability: FREE with Medicare card or RTA identification card
HCC and HCPSS Student (Middle/High School): FREE with approved student fare application
Monthly Student Pass: $20.00; Free for the summer of 2024
Check the Bridges Resource Library’s Howard County Transportation Information entry for more details.
Carroll County
The Carroll Transit System offers fixed routes called TrailBlazers, which are open to the public and run Monday – Friday from 7 am until 4:30 pm.
Trailblazer routes serve Westminster, Taneytown, and North Carroll County.
Fares
$2.00/one-way
50% discount for all students enrolled at Carroll Community College or McDaniel College on all transportation on TrailBlazer service, regardless of destination
Check the Bridges Resource Library’s Carroll County Transportation Information entry for more details.
Frederick County
Transit Services of Fredrick County
Offers a variety of public transportation options, and all are free to any passenger.
Connector Routes operate in the City of Frederick and urbanized areas of Frederick County.
Commuter shuttles and two Meet-the-MARC shuttles operate each weekday.
Connector and Shuttle Buses
Fare: $0
Currently, all Transit Services of Fredrick County public transportation services are available at no cost.
Additional resources
Shuttle bus schedules web page
Meet-the-MARC Service
The Meet-the-MARC Service offers commuters transport from several outlying areas to either the Point-of-Rocks MARC train station or the Frederick Transit Center. Find details of this service in the Meet-the-MARC Current Service Rider Bulletin. Currently, the Meet-the-MARC Service is free.
Check the Bridges Resource Library’s Fredrick County Transportation Information entry for more details
Moving Forward
Please reach out to us at the Bridges Helpdesk for anything from exploring your options to finding out what you’re eligible for to formulating an ambitious travel plan for the first time. We’re here to make sure you have the tools and resources you need to explore our state without emptying your wallet.
Please contact the Free Bridges Helpdesk anytime
- Via our Accessible Web Form
- Email: Helpdesk@imagemd.org
- Visit our Bridges Helpdesk website
- Text or Leave a voice mail message: (410) 357-1546
This unique project is being coordinated through The IMAGE Center of Maryland, a center for independent living in Towson, and it is funded by a grant from the Maryland Department of Education Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services.