Mission Statement

The mission of the Division of Transit Services is to provide an effective mix of public transportation services in Montgomery County.

Budget Overview

The total approved FY20 Operating Budget for the Division of Transit Services is $145,128,227, an increase of $7,532,050 or 5.47 percent from the FY19 Approved Budget of $137,596,177. Personnel Costs comprise 57.38 percent of the budget for 886 full-time position(s) and no part-time position(s), and a total of 908.87 FTEs. Total FTEs may include seasonal or temporary positions and may also reflect workforce charged to or from other departments or funds. Operating Expenses account for the remaining 42.62 percent of the FY20 budget.

The general obligation bond Debt Service for the Mass Transit Fund is appropriated in the Debt Service Fund and is not displayed in this section. To pay for the Debt Service, a transfer of funds from the Mass Transit Fund to the Debt Service Fund of $22,400,120 is required.

In addition, this department's Capital Improvements Program (CIP) requires Current Revenue funding.

County Priority Outcomes

While this program area supports all eight of the County Result Areas, the following are emphasized:

• Thriving Youth and Families
• Easier Commutes
• A Greener County

Department Performance Measures

Performance measures for this department are included below (where applicable), with multi-program measures displayed at the front of this section and program-specific measures shown with the relevant program. The FY19 estimates reflect funding based on the FY19 approved budget. The FY20 and FY21 figures are performance targets based on the FY20 approved budget and funding for comparable service levels in FY21.

Accomplishments

• Extended Route 75 Germantown MARC station during weekday peak periods.
• Obtained a Federal grant to support infrastructure and purchase costs for new electric buses in FY20.
• Ride On's new Route 129 (US29) limited stop bus service connecting to the Silver Spring Transit Center began in early calendar year 2018.
• Forty-two Ride On bus shelters are now solar powered. The bus shelters are located in areas where electric utilities do not have nearby power connections. The solar power provides safety lighting, and there are plans to install solar equipment in 10 additional shelters. Overall, 10 pecent of all shelters will be solar powered.
• Real Time signs are in over 80 locations displaying real time bus arrival/departure information.

Initiatives

• Implement new limited stop FLASH service on US 29 between the Burtonsville Park-and-Ride Lot and the Silver Spring Transit Center in May 2020. The line will include 18 new station platforms with a fleet of 16 60-foot articulated buses. Service will run from 5:30 am - midnight seven days a week with 7.5 minute headways in the morning and afternoon peak periods and 15 minutes at all other times.
• Expand the Kids Ride Free Program from 2pm to 8pm weekdays to all bus service hours.
• Implement Ride On FLEX bus service in Spring 2019 . This will be a demand response service. There will be three geofenced zones- Rockville, Glenmont, and Wheaton. This service will operate with smaller circulator buses as they are more reasonable and flexible to operate along small neighborhood roads. The opportunity to get closer into the neighborhoods and utilize a new "app" to arrange for pickup should attract new riders and revitalize transit use in the areas.
• Ride On is rolling out its new computer aided dispatch/automatic vehicle location (CAD/AVL) system. The CAD/AVL system provides critical real time bus fleet information. The CAD/AVL system provides schedule adherence, route adherence, traveler information output and fleet management. The new CAD/AVL system is fully integrated to transit planning software and Real Time.

Program Descriptions

  Passenger Facilities

The Passenger Facilities program provides for the safe, comfortable, clean, and accessible entry for transit customers into the transit system. The program is responsible for supervising the construction and maintenance of bus shelters and the collection of the County's share of revenues generated through advertising sales. It is also responsible...

  Medicaid and Senior Programs

Medicaid and Senior Special Transportation Programs provide: transportation to and from medical appointments for Medicaid participants, a user-side subsidy program (Call-n-Ride) that provides travel options for low-income elderly and disabled, and outreach and information on public private transportation programs available to seniors and persons with disabilities....

  Ride On

Fixed-route bus service is provided by the Ride On system throughout the County. Ride On operates primarily in neighborhoods and provides a collector and distributor service to the major transfer points and transit centers in the County. Ride On supplements and coordinates the County's mass transit services with Metrobus and...

  Commuter Services

The Commuter Services Section promotes alternatives to the single occupant vehicle -- including transit, car/vanpooling, biking, walking, and telework-- to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. Programs and services are concentrated in the County's five Transportation Management Districts: Silver Spring, Friendship Heights, Bethesda, North Bethesda and Greater Shady Grove,...

  Taxi Regulation

The Taxi Regulation program is responsible for issuance, enforcement, renewal, and management of passenger vehicle licenses and taxicab driver IDs. This program administers the taxicab regulation, licensing, and permit activities of Chapter 53 of the Montgomery County Code....

  Customer Service

The Customer Service program is the interface between Ride On's service delivery and customer information. In addition to managing the distribution of paper transit timetables, web sites are maintained and updated, and real time information is provided through various media (phone, web, mobile apps and signs). System information is provided...

  Transit Operations Planning

The Transit Operations Planning program provides comprehensive, coordinated, and integrated services to assure the County's transit needs are met. To accomplish this objective, the program plans and schedules Ride On service, evaluates and develops Ride On routes; adjusts schedules three times a year, and coordinates bus service with the Washington...

  Transit Parking Facility Maintenance

The Transit Parking Facility Maintenance program funds the operation and maintenance of the Park and Ride Lots as well as Transit Centers. The Division of Parking Management Operations section provides and manages the maintenance services....

  Fixed Costs

The Fixed Costs program contains certain cost items that involve long-term funding commitments independent of the annual scope of program costs. Fixed costs included in this category are utility payments and insurance. Casualty insurance for Ride On is provided through the Division of Risk Management. The costs are required or...

  Administration

The Administration program provides general management, planning, supervision, and support for the Division. It performs financial management tasks, administers contracts, manages grants, provides personnel management functions, and provides Montgomery County's financial support to the Washington Suburban Transit Commission....